THE EDGE

Eternity X is one of the better prog metal bands out there. Even if the string synths can seem a little overdone and lead vocalist Keith Sudano owes more than a small debt to Queensryche's Geoff Tate, I generally like what this band does. In fact, I must say that the balance that this group strikes between metal and prog is more satisfactory than some other heavyweights of the genre like Tool and Dream Theater. If you like theatrical performances from your rockers than Eternity X is essential listening. However, while the group's ambition is to be lauded, this album, which goes on for more than 70 minutes, could have done with some trimming down.

The gripping opening track kicks off this album really well with thundering drums, powerful string synth and a brief Brian May soundalike guitar solo that leads into a great melodic metal track which also contains some flashy playing from each of the band's members before the memorable semi-tragic string synth melody returns. The momentum is kept up for quite some time.

Fly Away has an absolutely epic chorus and a nice guitar solo over a piano-led backdrop that reminds me of Queen. The Confession starts off with an excerpt from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and has a nice piano mid-section. The Edge (Part 2) The Looking Glass is another power-packed track with haunting choral vocals and a heavy string synth presence, even if I must admit that the classical "affectations" get a little ridiculous towards the end of the track. A Day In Verse is a really melodic piano-driven power ballad with a little bit of metal thrown in, it is perhaps a little bit too poppy, now that I think about it. Imaginarium is one of those definitive prog-metal pieces with great acoustic segments, hard overdrive playing, always melodic with a kick-ass mid-paced section.

The Edge Of Madness is a rather irritating piece, which has some nice fast-paced synth tucked in near the end of it, In fact, keyboardist Jaime Mazur who apparently joined for this one album, is the main player that excites me. Rejection is decent and one is rather grateful for its brevity, while Baptized By Fire is another beautiful piano-driven piece that turns into a prog-metal fest with more class than most other prog-metal bands muster ... it's probably my favourite piece here. Finally we have a reprise of the main song to round it all off nicely.

I wouldn't say that The Edge offers many exciting surprises, but it's an engaging and underrated bit of prog-metal that deserves more respect than it seems to have gotten, not least from the hard-core prog-metallers themselves! ... 51% on the MPV scale