ANOTHER MOMENT IN TIME - LIVE IN POLAND (DVD)

Quite how Final Conflict have managed to pass me by for so many years is something of a mystery to me. I can only use the rather lame excuse that the metallic overtones of the band's name (Inspired by a film in "The Omen" series) have led me to place them on the low priority list for investigation. Believe me though, this band deserves attention.

Final Conflict have been around since 1985 and released their first album in 1991. This excellent DVD captures them live in Katowice, Poland in October 2008. It must have been some night at the Wyspianski Theatre that day, as Final Conflict were the opening act of a trio of bands, the others being Credo and Pendragon. The performances of all three have now been released by Metal Mind Productions.

The five man line up of the band offers a pleasingly different angle on the conventional prog line up, with two highly talented guitarists and vocalists (founders Andy Lawton and Brian Donkin) sharing centre stage. The two harmonise well vocally, while alternating the lead and second guitar duties. The intricate vocal arrangements on songs such as "Miss D'Meanor" are handled with consummate ease by both.

The set offers a good cross section of songs recorded by the band over the years, giving the Polish audience a superb overview of what Final Conflict are all about. As I hinted at earlier, the music of the band is somewhat different to what I for one expected. There are elements of Arena, Pendragon, Pallas and IQ in the band's highly melodic music. The twin guitars tend to drive the band instrumentally, with Steve Lipiec adding layer after layer of keyboard sounds on which the music is based. This, when combined with the exceptional vocal abilities of both singers, results in some highly melodic, but often complex pieces which are fully developed. Quieter phases offer contrasts with driving rock passages, the wonderful 13+ minute "Stop" being an undoubted highlight which exploits such an arrangement.

The band are on stage for about 75 minutes in all, during which time, they perform 10 songs. I am sure, had they not been compelled to make way for the find bands who were to follow, they could have played for twice as long and the audience would have been quite happy.

If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the work of Final Conflict, this DVD offers the perfect introduction to their music. It will undoubtedly please many of those who visit these parts, especially those with an ear for the neo-prog style. Those who already know and love the band will simply find that this set confirms the competence and quality of the product of these criminally overlooked musicians.

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