BEYOND REALITY

Mangrove

Symphonic Prog

3.61 | 58 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

When the good chaps at Mangrove approached the progboys to send us this album we were more than pleased to take them up on their offer as we had heard great things about this band.

The album artwork immediatley reminded me of the band "Magnum" and their brillantly designed and unique covers which rodney matthews was responsible for.This is certainly an album I would pick up and buy on an impulse purchase as well so they must be congratulated on this,but their were some downsides to the design which we will touch on a little later. Soundwise though this album was a complete surprise to the Progboys,as we were expecting a european progressive metal band,so never judge a book by its cover.

The music could be described as symphonic rock with a complex web of lush guitars and keyboards and has been very well produced with a very keen attention to the sonic tapestry that they create.The vocals are reminiscent of Pink Floyd`s "The Wall", and shows that they must have been a great influence to Mangrove even if the vocal sound a little "European" (which is not derogatory in the least).

That said, it is a great album, lots of twiddly keyboards to shake a stick at,with soaring guitars and a sound reminiscent of midway point genesis with a hint of I/Q in the mix as well. For some reason that is beyond reality to me is the booklet that accompanies the cd. The lyrics are printed backwards, so if you are one (like me) that likes to read the "rules" to the songs, then you will have to hold them up to a mirror, which was a pain.

But don`t let that put you off. "Beyond Reality" is an album to keep even that hardened Progger interested, including the 18 minute "Time Will Tell" which is the best track on the album.

The Progboys are looking forward to the next project from Mangrove,and it is definetly worth seeking out and buying,just print the lyrics the right way round please.:-)

www.progboys.com

tworoads | 4/5 | 2009-8-27

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