UNIVERSAL MIGRATOR, PART 2: FLIGHT OF THE MIGRATOR

Story-wise, this is the sequel to the Dream Sequencer. Music-wise, it aint so much. These two albums are completely different. The Dream Sequencer, which I consider a masterpiece of progressive music, was a perfectly composed and orchestrated atmospheric and ambient work, whilst Flight of the Migrator, a very good album on its own, is a symphonic journey into heavy metal prog music.

The compositions and melodies on the Dream Sequencer were so beguiling that they perhaps set the bar too high for Flight of the Migrator. Still, even though the melodical support is not as strong, it is still pretty decent, and of course the energy level now booms to stratospheric heights.

Like The Dream Sequencer, Flight of the Migrator opens with an instrumental track that sets the record straight right from the start. It then moves to one of the best two tracks of this album, Dawn of a Million Souls. An incredibly catchy chorus, fully symphonic as it is backed by chord instruments effects, and overall a near-perfect composition. I can hardly imagine anyone disliking this song.

My favourite track would although be Into the Black Hole, notably featuring Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson on vocals and Arena's Clive Nolan on keyboards. The end result is jaw-dropping. This is the most mellow song of the album, but still has a heavy feeling to it. Slowly builds into an incredible finale. Cunning.

The other tracks are nicely crafted too overall but I feel they lack a strong melodical support, except perhaps for the closer, The New Migrator, another excellent one.

I although have no doubt that this is an excellent album, nicely blending metal with symphonic elements and melodical support. Recommended. Just do not expect a lyrical support as strong as the story told on the Dream Sequencer though.