ANOTHER MOMENT IN TIME - LIVE IN POLAND (DVD)

Polished performances in Poland

Quite how Final Conflict have managed to pass me by for so many years is something of a mystery to me. I can only use the rather lame excuse that the metallic overtones of the band's name (Inspired by a film in "The Omen" series) have led me to place them on the low priority list for investigation. Believe me though, this band deserves attention.

Final Conflict have been around since 1985 and released their first album in 1991. This excellent DVD captures them live in Katowice, Poland in October 2008. It must have been some night at the Wyspianski Theatre that day, as Final Conflict were the opening act of a trio of bands, the others being Credo and Pendragon. The performances of all three have now been released by Metal Mind Productions.

The five man line up of the band offers a pleasingly different angle on the conventional prog line up, with two highly talented guitarists and vocalists (founders Andy Lawton and Brian Donkin) sharing centre stage. The two harmonise well vocally, while alternating the lead and second guitar duties. The intricate vocal arrangements on songs such as "Miss D'Meanor" are handled with consummate ease by both.

The set offers a good cross section of songs recorded by the band over the years, giving the Polish audience a superb overview of what Final Conflict are all about. As I hinted at earlier, the music of the band is somewhat different to what I for one expected. There are elements of Arena, Pendragon, Pallas and IQ in the band's highly melodic music. The twin guitars tend to drive the band instrumentally, with Steve Lipiec adding layer after layer of keyboard sounds on which the music is based. This, when combined with the exceptional vocal abilities of both singers, results in some highly melodic, but often complex pieces which are fully developed. Quieter phases offer contrasts with driving rock passages, the wonderful 13+ minute "Stop" being an undoubted highlight which exploits such an arrangement.

The band are on stage for about 75 minutes in all, during which time, they perform 10 songs. I am sure, had they not been compelled to make way for the find bands who were to follow, they could have played for twice as long and the audience would have been quite happy.

If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the work of Final Conflict, this DVD offers the perfect introduction to their music. It will undoubtedly please many of those who visit these parts, especially those with an ear for the neo-prog style. Those who already know and love the band will simply find that this set confirms the competence and quality of the product of these criminally overlooked musicians.

Final Conflict is(was) an average neo prog rock band from UK.

If you listen to their albums you won,t find nothing to remark,nothing really to remember.

FC music it seems to be a mix of mediocre songs of their influential from UK :Pendragon ,Arena or Shadowlands...and you may think:"Oh another Clive Nolan s band.But not.

In this DVD FC music is revitalized ..and songs you won,t pay a penny before ,you ll find they re good. In this revitalization the most important is (i think) the union with MetalMind records.

Yes MetalMind has been the record company of the most important concerts of neo prog bands and mostly in Katowice,Poland

Let s remember:Arena,Pendragon,Satellite,Shadowland,Jadis etc...

In all this concerts the same concept of video and audio ,same concept of video art and audio art.But i like that concept.

What to remark in this concert:

1)Quality of film and sounds. 2)Excellent drummer. 3) Three songs: -Stop -Rebellion -The Janus.

So for the effort 4 stars and because this work is one level over the others.

Final Conflict's Moment in Time -Live in Poland DVD features Henry Rogers, a drum phenomenon that has propelled bands such as Touchstone and Deeexpus and a personal favorite of mine, a real basher in the old style Bonham-Taylor-Moon mold. So this is my introduction to Final Conflict. I never got around to getting Stand Up " , their 1997 masterpiece, always hesitating for some obscure reason but when I saw Henry's name on this puppy, well??I knew it was going to be good, in fact real first-class. These lads are prog veterans, resolutely in the business of progressing their qualified art forward and with complete disregard for any oversimplified criticism by both the prog fanatics and the silly pop-rock world. Good show, I say! I see closer parallels with Credo than say IQ, Galahad, Pallas, Pendragon or Marillion. It's all very English, very immediate and extremely entertaining.

The concert starts off with the usual symphonic flourish, always need an overture in prog , so as to pay homage to the classical period greats , Final Conflict's maturity is evident on the opening "Solitude" where squalls of Steve Lipiec's keyboards create quite a stir, combining with a duet vocal, both Andy Lawton and Brian Donkin shine within the pools of synthesized melancholia. When Rogers starts rolling his thunder, the mood develops into a more standard neo-progressive onslaught, fiery dual guitars (the same two) crossing 6 stringed swords, sustaining a classic chorus that holds a bright candle to all the past prog glories and fulfilling a tremendous first salvo. When the guitars rage, it's done in a gut wrenching demonstration of prowess, nothing experimental or avant-garde but delightfully entertaining. A remarkable entrance piece, a classic on many levels, and, yes the bass work from Barry Elwood is phenomenal. .

"Stand Up" has a threatening commencement, rifling drum rolls, sweltering guitar lasers, active bass and 'them there' huge beats. Catchy, memorable and haunting, the thrill is in the complex simplicity of both music and the voices, urging one to 'stand up" and sway to the dream. One can witness the obvious enthusiasm from all the players, singer Brian Donkin diving deep into the emotion, looking like a proggier Michael Sadler of Saga fame or axe man Adam Lawton carving sophisticated slabs of tight-rope soloing. Monster track and one for the neo-prog ages.

The somber-funk of "The Following" lays down a firm bass and drum motif, on which liquid piano shuffles along and the vocals entwine nicely with the basic melody. After a characteristic breezy main passage, the musicians toss in some interesting ideas, superb backing vocal work, jazzy piano, big fat juicy axe solos (ya know, slow, fast, slippery and wet). Nice to see Rogers holding down the fort so eloquently, solid stuff! This may be Neo- prog but the instrumentalists are all superb musicians with divine chops.

"Miss D'Meanor" bounces along with vigor, panache and the first strains of painful passion, supplied by some bright playing = simple synth solo, dual guitar sensations a la Wishbone Ash and a time-keeper style of bass/drum rhythm . Effortless is good only when it's well constructed. The duet vocal is equally appreciated.

"Stop" is the epic show-stopper (pun) that governs this disc, an out of this world slice of classic prog (like early Genesis and early Marillion), as it slowly expands into a whopping crescendo of sound, well-anchored on the low-end, Lawton really getting into his vocal performance, convincing the audience of his aching sincerity. The lyrics reference the shameful epidemic of child abuse (verbal or physical) and a generation of wounded youth, who can only grow up imitating the torturers. They are not singing about peace, love and trippy rock 'n roll! This is a serious matter and the frustrating rage soon explodes all over the speakers, "I could break your barrier" as the bass bops all over the place in utter frenzy. Rogers simply shimmers here, pushing, pulling, grinding and plowing masterfully. As for Donkin, he really tears into a bevy of tasty solos that shiver down the spine (nothing too technical but very bluesy) while shrieking the secondary vocal. Yes! A prog model track.

This marvel segues into "Rebellion", the rage puts fuel to the fire, a raucous, madcap rant that slams hard and bruised (the bass again), churning smoke from the sizzling organ and the punky vocals add anger to the whole. There is a pervading sense of chaos, monolithic and peerless, crowned by a panoramic fretboard solo.

"Can't Buy Experience" boots it into bliss overdrive with Henry smiling brashly as he bashes away, then Donkin starts sweating profusely as spouts off some insane lyrics about the life experience! Lipiec slips off some ivory synthiness, thus adding to the maelstrom. "All Alone" is a FC oldie that blooms in a live setting, showcasing strong melodies, immense playing and the panting intervals that characterize this seductive style finding a Fish-y Donkin as he duels nicely with Lawton on the guitar and the mike! What talent on display, arguably highly charged emotional content with some fluid instrumental work, all drummed together by that Rogers fella! "The Janus" is a two-faced slice of deranged vocals (sounding something like Fish or his Polish cohort Adam Lassa of Abraxas), a bi-polar arrangement of twisting keys, screwy guitar screeches , all pushed along by a rabid beat. The dual guitar onslaught is never tiresome, as both Lawton and Donkin push the envelope. "Waiting for a Chance" sums it all up quite brightly, a bruising finale to a tremendous concert and its eternal availability via DVD. All is nicely executed blessed with a fantastic sound, bright visuals without corny effects and the heat of the moment is vividly captured.

Final Conflict is quite a revelation, a rather unusual twist on the allegedly formulaic sentence that neo-prog seems to be saddled with; I see a huge amount of genialness, honesty, enjoyment and pride in their craft. I look forward to their new album 'Return of the Artisan' with Rogers sitting firmly on the drum stool. All the musicians are to be commended for their genuine passion and their ability to extol these virtues in a live and very personal setting! Wow! I am stunned and you will be also! Top DVD !

5 Last battles