SILENCE

A.C.T. has a knack for keeping things interesting....and though I find this album enjoyable, it is NOT a must have for me. Many of the strengths of Imaginary Friends and Last Epic are here, including solid writing, great musicianship, and strong production. What is missing here though is the edge and power of the previous albums. To put it plainly, this is a VERY mellow album. It's really hard to classify this as Progressive Rock, because in most spots it is missing the ROCK. Ola Andersson is simply one of the best guitarists in this genre, but unfortunately he is VERY subdued on this album and the end result is a collection of mellow and sweet melodies/songs that lack PUNCH! The opening track "Truth In Pain" is a stellar track....good dynamics, great guitar to carry the verses, and interesting interplay between keyboards and guitar at the end of the song. "Into The Unknown" is another excellent song.....very poppy but very good. "Memory to Fight" is an intricate track ....worth the price of the album. Beyond those three it is a mixed bag. I am hoping this mellow period is just a passing phase for this band. In the meantime, this one will go on the shelf and I will continue to enjoy Imaginary Friends and Last Epic.