EMPIRES NEVER LAST

A few weeks ago I wrote a review about Galahad their new DVD entitled Live In Poland - Resonance. I was delighted about the exciting prog by this current line-up, the last time I heard Galahad was in the mid-Nineties during a triple prog concert in Holland with a very disappointing Galahad performance so I decided to focus on other bands. This new album is produced by guitarplayer Karl Groom who played in the neo-prog bands Casino and Shadowland (with Clive Nolan) and mainly with prog metal formation Threshold along guest work on records from Mercy Train, Strangers On A Train, Peter Gee (Pendragon) and Tracy Hitchings (Landmarq), most musicians had a contract with SI Music, allied to SI Magazine, the Dutch progrock magazine I worked for many years in the Nineties.

In general the 7 compositions sound bombastic featuring sumptuous keyboard layers, propulsive guitar riffs, howling and fiery guitar soli and expressive vocals (from warm and dreamy to ominous and dramatic). The captivating elements in Galahad their new sound are the great tension and lots of musical surprises: an intro with fragile piano runs, then a compelling and bombastic climate and a break with sensitive electric guitar play in Termination, an intro with exciting sequencing, splendid guitarwork, excellent vocals and a majestic church-organ sound in the alternating and emotional I Could Be God (quite cynical view on mankind and religion), a swinging bass, mellow Fender Rhodes piano and a bombastic final part with fiery guitar in the captivating titletrack and wonderful keyboards (from fragile to sparkling piano, bombastic synthesizers and soaring Mellotron) and a closing section featuring howling guitar runs in de alternating final song This Life Could Be My Last.

I am impressed by Galahad anno 2007, what a compelling musical experience, way more interesting and original than the pleasant but predictable neo-prog like the debut CD Nothing Is Written!