BENEATH THE VEIL OF WINTER'S FACE

Some nine years after their previous album, Mystery finally returned in 2007. But it should be pointed out that radical changed had occurred. They were now in several ways a quite different band from the one that recorded Theatre Of The Mind and Destiny? in the 90's. Steve-Perry- sound-a-like Gary Savoie had now been replaced by Jon-Anderson-sound-a-like Benoît David (who later was recruited to stand in for Jon Anderson in Yes). But not only the vocals had changed, also the musical approach. The Hard Rock-edge of the previous two albums was somewhat lost here in exchange for a somewhat softer, more modern, and more symphonic, Prog sound. The Journey-, Rush-, Queensryche-, and Fates Warning-similarities were gone, and they now reminded more of Kansas, Neal Morse, and other American Prog acts.

No doubt, some Prog fans will prefer the old and others the new Mystery. Personally, I like both the old and the new. But somehow, Beneath The Veil Of Winters Face, though definitely a good album in its own right, feels a little bit lukewarm. In my view, it is not as compelling as either its predecessor Destiny? or its follow-up One Among The Living. On the latter, the band had become more comfortable in their new style.

There is not one weak track here, but also there is nothing that stands out as such. This is high-quality progressive music, but not very original or distinctive. Beneath The Veil Of Winters Face is still a good addition to any collection that already holds both Destiny? and One Among The Living, but perhaps not the best place to start.

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