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Futures End - Memoirs of a Broken Man CD (album) cover

MEMOIRS OF A BROKEN MAN

Futures End

 

Progressive Metal

3.39 | 17 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars "Memoirs of a Broken Man" is the debut full-length studio album by US progressive/power metal act Futures End. The album was released through Nightmare Records in October 2009. Futures End formed in 2007 and feature quite a few prolific names in the lineup. The quintet lineup consists of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Testament, Death...etc.), drummer Jon Allen (Sadus, Dragonlord, Testament...etc.), guitarist Christian David Wentz (Circle II Circle, The Element), guitarist Marc Pattison (Destiny's Void, Chemical Burn, Circle II Circle), and lead vocalist Fred Marshall (Destiny's Void, Zero Hour).

So without even talking about it, weīve established by looking at the names involved, that the musicianship is top notch on "Memoirs of a Broken Man". Stylistically the material is a progressive tinged form of US power metal performed with great technical skill. Marshall is a powerful and commanding singer (Iīm personally not sold on his voice, although he is undeniably a skilled vocalist), and the album is loaded with high level drumming and bass playing (...itīs the Sadus rhythm section so itīs a matter of course), and very intricate guitar riffs and lead work. Fans of the genre should be able to find a lot to enjoy here. The material are relatively varied with both hard edged US power metal tracks, intricate semi-progressive moments, and the occasional more power ballad type sections.

"Memoirs of a Broken Man" features 11 tracks and a total playing time of 70:07 minutes. 10 originals and a cover of "Powerslave" by Iron Maiden closing the album. While itīs slightly too long for itīs own good, itīs not an album featuring an excess of filler material. Itīs more a matter of 70 minutes generally being a very long playing time for any release and a shorter more focused release could have felt even stronger than this version. The album is packed in a detailed and powerful sounding production, so upon conclusion itīs a high quality release by Futures End. A 3.5 (70%) rating is deserved (probably higher if you appreciate Marshallīs voice more than I do).

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

UMUR | 3/5 |

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