THE MYSTIC TECHNOCRACY - SEASON 1: THE AGE OF IGNORANCE

Docker's Guild is the brainchild of keyboardist and vocalist Douglas R Docker, who has managed to gather an impressive cast of other musicians and vocalists to back the project - names like Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather), Magnus Jacobson (Miss Behavior), Tony Franklin (Whitesnake, Blue Murder, The Firm), Guthrie Govan (Asia), Amanda Somerville (Avantasia, Epica, Trillium), Goram Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Noram, Nostradamus), and others. This album is a rock opera in every sense of the term, and the combination of vocal chorus style singing and keyboard style instantly reminded me of the space rock feel of projects like Star One and Ayreon. All throughout the album, the keyboards are featured prominently, and Douglas creates a lush landscape with many keyboard textures, giving a futuristic sound to the album that often reminded me of an 80's Sci Fi flick. Open the cd booklet, and the lush images presented back the music quite well, creating a lush, futuristic world. The album is meant to be part one of a 5 part concept album series, and the story revolves around the idea of fanatical, dogmatic religion waging war and committing atrocities in the name of their god. The music is energetic, dramatic, large-scaled, well-orchestrated, and professional sounding. A solid album that will appeal to fans of projects like Avantasia and Ayreon.