IMPENDING ASCENSION

Magellan

Heavy Prog

3.71 | 149 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

With the types of influences that "Magellan" is using, it is quite strange that they end up in the heavy prog category. It sounds much more a combination of symph and neo-prog to my perception.

If you want to travel through the seventies and return to some "Yes" (vocals) or "ELP" (music) feeling, I can only recommend the very good opening song: "Estadium Nacional". It is true to add that some parts are heavier oriented, but not too much.

The Gardner brothers (and their crew) do propose some above the line music (which is not often the case with other US bands of the same vein) and therefore I am (so far) quite tolerant with their work. It might not be recommended to purists, but overall one gets a good forty minutes break while listening to "Impeding Ascension". The opening track is rather impressive (but so was "Magna Carta" from their debut). The same fear as well: is the band able to proceed on the same level?

The second long song (over eleven minutes like "Estadium") is maybe more personal (but fully neo). There are several theme changes and great keys proposed in this offering. It would be false to say that some "Genesis" feel would be alien to it. Still, "ELP" are also not too far away. Not too bad a mix and nicely rendered. Bombastic moments are also on-line to be complete. Especially during the long keyboards parts.

This album holds a third long song (again over eleven minutes): "Storms And Mutiny". It is my least favourite one, probably due to its intense borrowing from several masters and much less inspired. Some sort of a metal version of "Watcher Of Skies" at times. Ouch!

Just like during their debut, the shorter songs are of less quality. "Virtual Reality" for instance sounds closer to "prog" metal than anything else. A heavy "Kansas" maybe? Nothing too exceptional (but "Songsmith" was already an indication). Good vocals though.

The totally heavy metal oriented closing "Under The Fire" is a rather bizarre manner to end up with this work. As far as I'm concerned, I can only be happy that it last for a mere 100 seconds.

I rate this album with three stars (just as their debut one) mostly thanks to the first two long tracks available.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 | 2009-10-17

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