FREEDOM WITHIN

A heavier Visual Cliff album with some excellent riffs and vocals. This was the first time the band decided to add the vocals of Shane Lankford and it was a welcome change. The instrumentals of past albums are still here on occasion but the songs are the best tracks. Sacred and Beneath the Sand a re wonderful heavy tracks with very powerful lyrics based on Christian living. The guitars are subtle but very riff heavy, like recent Rush in some ways.

The riff in Radiant Departure could do with a vocal accompaniment but it works well enough. I like the scratchy guitar and the lead breaks are as excellent as past releases.

This album does not have the ambience and heavy reliance on piano of the other Visual Cliff albums and once again the change in style is for the better. Having said that there are still wonderful keyboard sections but not as bombastic or overbearing.

The progressive time changes in Torn From Expression are great, another killer instrumental based on heavy riffing and clean lead breaks. This track is a bit Dream Theater/Rush in style and structure. I love that riff! Check it out here on the PA. In fact once again the entire album, indeed the entire discography of the band is free to listen to here on streaming audio!

The riffing continues on Spirit Rain, another instrumental. Rush sounding as ever, and memorable melody with a number of time signature changes, heavy to melancholy in blasts and the lead guitar shines on this instrumental track.

So what are you waiting for? Take the plunge over the Visual Cliff. This is definitely one of the best bands I have heard in a long time. Yet to produce a masterpiece, but this comes very, very close. All are 4 stars but this is their best album along with 'Into The After'.

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