INTO THE SUNSET

Keyboard deity Erik Norlander's "Into The Sunset" is a deep, massive, and masterful set of super-charged melodic art rock, a more artfully intense version of the brilliant symphonic metal he creates as the cornerstone instrumentalist on Lana Lane's many sensational albums. Unsurprisingly, the performances here are dazzling: Norlander is joined by a constellation including guitarist/prog-hero Arjen Anthony Lucassen, man-on-bass Tony Franklin, and vocalists Lana Lane and Glenn Hughes; all excel as expected.

But this "Sunset" truly shines because of its songwriting, which is every bit as impacting as the performances; highlights range from melodic, hard-edged metal (the stampeding "Rome Is Burning," the sweeping drama of "Fly") to atmospheric instrumentals and extended, polychromatic pomp epics ("On The Wings Of Ghosts," the bonus track "Alchemy And Astronomy"). Best of all, the songs' hooks stick exceptionally well for such an artistically substantial record, making the album both profound and relatively accessible, both instantly and enduringly resonant. For fans of ELP-ish prog and post-Blackmore Euro-metal alike, "Into The Sunset" makes an indelible impression.