LIVE IN MEMORIAM

if you like other albums,this is i must have.this is like atom bomb in neo prog.vocalization is almost from theatr(more like psychodelic opera(positive)).chord guitar is similar voice chord,almost better Latimer.this's hardcore collage(best albums (basnie,moonshine))if you like DT this is not for you.if you like real prog rock(neo) music this is for You(). sound battle,soul battle

not for DT

I have a special kindness for this Polish band, having rated each of their releases with at least four stars.

How could it be different with this excellent live record? Some of their best songs being featured in a convincing live set. But some great songs are unfortunately missing ("Michel De Nostredame"). Nobody's perfect.

Their great lead vocalist (Adam Łassa ) is as good live than in the studio. It is amazing how he could impress me so much while singing in such an incomprehensible language. Because I don't speak any Polish. But he is so fabulous that he is able to convey his emotions to anybody on earth I guess.

I am sad that this one is their last album to date. On their web-site, there are talks of some live sets in 2005 so I guess that there were still some activity related with the band. I will post some queries and hopefully, I'll get some more accurate news about "Abraxas".

Is it necessary to say that "Dorian Gray", "Anathema", "Pokuszenie", "Spowiedz" are superbly rendered?

There are some unreleased songs recorded for this concert like "Czerwca", but the most extraordinary one is of course "Tomasz Fray Torquemada". A ten minutes journey through some symphonic and melodic music (the start). The guitar work is frankly catchy, while the beat catches up gently.

One can fully appreciate the grandeur of this band in such a song. Complex, tortured, full of different moods (even prog metal is featured here). It should please any prog lover, and not only neo prog ones since their music if far beyond this single and reductive genre.

This live album is a good way to discover this very pleasantd band. You'll get a great overview of their studio work as well as some unreleased material (even if E'lamachiwae is the only weak number).

"Pokuszenie" is the absolute highlight. A jewel of a long and truly melodic song. The guitar work is essential and so beautiful. On par with the best solo of Nick Barrett ("Pendragon"). This song even features some notes from "Hairless Heart" ("The Lamb"). It is fully symphonic. A monster piece of music. Chapeau, messieurs! Hats off gentlemen!

And "Czakramy" is on par : such an emotional chorus line, combined with a great off-beat tempo. A real pleasure to listen to it. The last part of this album is very strong as well. No second-hand track nor filler here. Adam always achieve to raise an average song (Medallion) to another level.

The poppy and upbeat Tarot is probably not as good as the studio version (to be discovered on their debut) but by no means should it be considered as of less interest. In one track, you'll get the essence of the band : symphonic, metal and neo-prog.

The sublime instrumental closing number is just a jewel of a symphonic guitar number. A fantastic way to end this great concert. What else do we need ?

Four stars for this excellent live album.

The epitaph from this sadly split up Polish neo-prog band.

And a live album it is too. A seventy-eight minutes long album which takes the CD format to the absolute limits of how much you can put on a disc.

The music is neo-prog with male vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. There are some guest female vocals here too. The music is lush, a bit hard and a bit symphonic. Those who likes Satellite and Collage will find themselves in familiar territory here. Abraxas was very much the pioneer in the Polish neo prog scene and a lot of bands has followed in their path.

Quality wise, this live album is very good. I am not a big fan of this band, but I like a lot of the music here. Some songs here are not that great though. But I am overall pretty impressed by this very good album. But it is more an album for the neo-prog fans than an allrounder like myself.

3.5 stars