MAMMOTH

I'd like to say that this album is a masterpiece. I've listened to it over and over again for weeks, and while I love it when I'm listening to it, when it's over it doesn't stick with me. I can't say why that is, but that is what happens. It's still a great album.

The opener, The Platform is a wonderful piece of heavy prog, that seems to draw from a variety of hard rock influences. And The Stone Said "If I Could Speak is a more traditional symphonic prog song, and at just over fifteen minutes, the longest song on the album. When the vocals finally come in, they remind me a bit of a Porcupine Tree song (I can't remember which).

Tightrope, aside from the vocals, reminds me of classic Moody Blues. Green Waves brings back the heavy prog sound. But for the vocals, this could be a Rush tune okay - it would need a more complex bass line, too). Outside / Inside is a short solo piano piece, and it feels quite out of place. But Akakabotu brings things back into like, with heavy organ trading off with Canterbury sounding horns.

Without Saying Anything is an excellent closer, another symphonic prog piece with moments of heaviness.

At some point, I may find the time to watch the bonuc DVD that came with the CD and add it to this review, but the music alone is enough to award four stars.