INSPIRACION

In Montevideo, Uruguay, sometime in 1996, started the career of Drama with bassist/singer Fernando Kronos and keyboardist Flavio Gonzalez forming the group, which by the next year featured also drummer Martin Lopez.The group would work with several guitarists and drummers in the next years, always managing to record original material, but the stable members would not enter the picture before 2000, when guitarist Javier Benich joined the group, followed two years later by drummer Mike Hinkediker.It was the same year when the Brazilian label Rock Symphony decided to release Drama's debut ''Inspiracion''.

The album contains all the right elements to possibly create a nice Symphonic Rock experience.Smooth keyboards, intense atmospheres, symphonic edgy synthesizers and a quite talented vocalist.There are even some romantic acoustic moments and light piano intros to complete a good musical background.The overall performance of the group though simply fails to strike the listener.It sounds often a bit lifeless, the tracks lack these killer parts that make them memorable, while the delivery of Drama seems very secure and one-dimensional at moments, despite the symphonic nature of the album.Some more powerful passages and more dynamic playing seems at moments the factor that could give the album a lift.Of course this is not one of the albums you should throw in a bin.''Sanson y Dalila'', propably the best track of the album, actually defines how this group should be playing, featuring excellent bombastic keyboards, dramatic guitars and nice vocals.The rest of the tracks have some decent moments, but the voice of Fernando Kronos is the most charming listening of all.

I am sad to say that this group could have done it much better than what is taped on this album.Average Neo/Symphonic Prog, lacking energy and fiery moments, saved by sporadic parts and one sole great track.Approach with caution if you are a fan of the style...2.5 stars.