THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

This is an album I discovered not long ago, and ranks up there with the most enjoyable concept albums that I have heard. It is of course based on the novel 'War of the Worlds' and has structure style very similar to Wakeman's Journey to the Center of The Earth. This one is very different to Wakeman's. This album is very strange and psychedelic in moments, and it usually has a Disco Rhythm (danceable prog rock!!). It has a huge and impressive line-up of talented musicians, and some unusual musical instruments.

CD 1:

The CD begins with a narration and the classic riff (with its symphony melding with an uptempo keyboard riff) that later will appear at various points of the album. The song is very strong instrumentally, and it is very easy to like at first listen. The following song is an epic focused on psychedelia and sound effects, and it is very well done. The next epic sounds like Journey to the center of the Earth (narrations) but of course with the danceable prog-disco rhythms. Forever Autumn is the most melodic song of the album, and has a slight moody blues style to it. Thunder Child is a solid disco-prog song with distorted vocals, and excellent musicianship which closes the first disc.

1. The Eve of the War (8.5/10) 2. Horsell Common and the Heat Ra (7.5/10) 3. The Artilleryman and the Fight (8/10) 4. Forever Autumn (8.5/10) 5. Thunder Child (7/10)

CD 2 :

It begins with the REd Weed which is darker and scarier than any of the music heard on Disc One. The Spirit of Man alternates Male and female singers, and sounds like an impressive song to play live. The Red Weed 2 is similar to the first part, and it is scary. The Brave New World is probably the strongest track of the album. It combines all elements of this album together into a long brilliant epic. Dead London is an ambient slow piece that gives imagery of pain, sadness, and loss. The album concludes with a very out of place epilogue.

6. The Red Weed (7/10) 7. The Spirit of Man (8/10) 8. The Red Weed (part 2) (6.5/10) 9. Brave New World (9/10) 10. Dead London (7.5/10) 11. Epilogue (Part 1) (6/10) 12. Epilogue (Part 2) (NASA) (4/10)

This album is not a masterpiece, but a very well done concept album with consistent quality (regardless of the long length), good musicianship, interesting rhythms, and full of powerful moments. If you like Rock Operas, you will like this

My Grade : B