PURE

Before this album was released, I was rather suspect in respect with its content. The former ''Believe'' was rather a deception for me. It was a step towards a less melodic music which I praise so much in Pendragon's repertoire.

I thought to get a preview during their anniversary tour which passed by my country on October 3rd, but for health reasons, I couldn't attend. So, I had to wait a few more days to discover their latest work.

The first time I listened to ''Pure'', I didn't really like it. Too hard, almost heavy at times: but this is modern disease I guess. Lots of neo-prog bands are heading in this direction nowadays. I don't necessarily embrace the move.

I decided though not to post my review only after a couple of spins and since ''Pendragon'' is one of my fave neo-prog band (together with ''Arena''), I spent some hours during the last six weeks to listen to this album.

None of the songs is bad of course (it must have been ages that ''Pendragon'' wrote a poor song) but superb and emotional moments are much scarce than before. When I say before, I mean their great trilogy from the nineties to which you can add ''Not From This World''.

The long opening track sets the pace for what this album is going to be. Almost metal riffs at times but decently faded in the whole of this Floydian-based song. One of the most melodic and conventional ''Pendragon'' song here is the beautiful and inspired ''Eraserhead''. All the passion from Nick is again sweating out of his guitar and he really delivers a great piece of music.

The heaviest number of all, it the hard to digest ''The Freak Show'': fortunately, it is by far the shortest track from this album (less than five minutes). It still holds some fine but very short melodic lines and refers bizarrely to ''Ziggy'' in the lyrics. But these are the only attractive parts of this song which I consider as the least interesting of this whole work.

''Pendragon-Nick Barrett'' reverts to their first love with the highly emotional ''It's Only Me''. I might be conventional here, but this is how I love this band the most: when they signed an infectious melody which is sublimated by the mellowish vocals and passionate guitars. Some might find it irritating but I just enjoy this type of song very much.

As usual, the band is also proposing a long pieces-suite. Almost a trade mart I should say. ''Comatose'' starts as a digest of this album: metal lines combined with symphonic neo-prog. I am not too much convinced by this mix though. When ''Pendragon'' plays this type of music, I feel it is somewhat forced; to meet the current wave of metal music.

I just hope that for their next effort, the band gets back with softer compositions which fits them better IMO. Like the final part of ''Comatose'': ''Home & Dry'' which is a glorious hymn to melody.

With ''Pure'', the band released a good album, but some magic is gone as far as I'm concerned. Three stars.