EXCELSIOR!

This is the first Mastermind album I've heard since Volume I and Volume II. And surprisingly, the ELP influences are almost gone. Sure, you can still here it a bit in the fabulous The Red Hour. And to me that is the best song on the album. But that shouldn't be a put down of the rest of the album.

As a reference, most of the music compares well to the Jan Hammer years of the Jeff Beck Group. Primarily guitar driven rock fusion tunes are the style of the band now, with Bill Berends' synth tinged axe out in front, th band plays a mean mixture of proggin' rock, with a bit of jazz.

Another high point is When The Walls Fell, which starts out as a guitar rocker, but turns into nice symphonic prog by the end.

It's not a perfect album, but it is a joy.