AFTER THE STORM

This doesn't impress me the way the follow up release did ("The Circle Of Madness"), but all the elements are here and there is a lot to like about this record. I think the most satisfying element of this album is the production. It really is flawless, the sounds are so crisp.

"Memory Station" has such a good intro of bass, guitar and drums. It all quietens down as vocals and piano come in.The vocals are fragile and warble a bit. The intensity returns along with soaring guitar and a keyboard solo. "Nobody's Perfect" features some brief outbursts of bass and drums. Lots of mood and tempo shifts as well as soaring guitar. "Sayana" is a mellow tune with piano to begin with. Soaring guitar 3 minutes in and check out the great bass playing as the drums pound away. "Cross Match" is an instrumental and one of my favourite songs on this album. The drumming is fantastic ! The drummer truly steals the show on this song.

"Symphonia" is a full sounding song with some good guitar throughout, and the vocals are well done. "If Someday" is another highlight for me. The drums and guitar sound so crisp.The melody 5 minutes in is so catchy, as well as the line he sings over and over "The children are singing in my head". Nice organ work as well. "Vision" opens with fragile vocals and piano. Lots of mood changes in this song as well as some bombastic passages. "After the Storm" the title track is an instrumental. Some beautiful piano melodies as drums pound away. There is a cool bass solo followed by a keyboard solo allowing the guys to stretch it out instrumentally. I have to say that the bass player is great, and he's all over this recording.

This is an enjoyable record that allows us to see the band in it's beginnings.