THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1974-1978

This band is rooted in 1973 when 3 schoolfriends decided to make music in the vein of their heroes Yes, Genesis and ELP. They made some albums, joined VDGG, Colosseum, Amon Duul and Eela Craig (my favorite Austrian band) on festivals but eventually Kyrie Eleison ran out of money, the same old story as so many small progrock bands discovered when the record companies ignored them! The music on this 3-CD set (limited edition of 1000 copies) varies a lot in sound - and musical quality. On disc-1 the music is in the vein of Iron Butterfly, Deep Purple and early Jane (the keyboardplayer is obviously classical educated), the tension between the guitar and keyboards evokes early Wallenstein. The compositions and sound quality are amateurish but contain many strong moments featuring a church- organ intro, sparkling piano, compelling organ, some Floydian organ and a bluesy Dave Greenslade-like organ piece. Disc 2 is more symphonic (Mellotron, synthesizer soli and a solo classical piano piece) with strong echoes from early Earth & Fire (but in a more raw version) and Genesis. Comparing to Dutch bands, I trace also Finch during the fiery electric guitar parts. The five compositions deliver some beautiful symphonic rock but the vocals are mediocre. Disc-3 has the focus on the key-album "The fountain beyond the sunrise", I suggest to read the reviews on Prog Archives (and other progrock sites), these are ranging from boring and poor Genesis clone to wonderful Genesis inspired symphonic rock, it's up to you!

I like this band. A great performance in 70 years. If it's a Genesis clone in some parts is very spaced and psiquedelic in others. In 70 years the sound of some records are not so good but the musicians quality made the quality of music. The inspiration to made some original musics is a vision of the quality of this band. It's a obscure band very hard to find the first recordings but if you listen carefully you like this work. It's a band for entusiastic of 70 décade sound. The keyboards made a space atmosphere in some parts. Lirics are nothing special but some music parts are very good and this band have some nice musicians. If you like Genesis and 70 years sound please listen this work.

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Kyrie Eleison is a progressive rock band from Austria formed in 1973 and lasted until 1978 when they disbanded. This 3 CD compilation (limited edition of 1000 copies) gathered all band recordings across the years, 2 studio albums and one live release with unrelease pieces and never featured on theose studio albums. The music is almost Genesis clone, Nursery cryme era, but manage in places to have some good moments. So, I will begin with their first album released in 1974 named The blind windows suite. Well here music is from Deep Purple fame , Wallenstein more on heavy prog side but with some symphonic arrangements, not realy bad overall, but the sound production is a total disaster. The compositions are enough lenghty , some of them almost 16 min, where Kyrie Eleison tries to make some intristing chops, but not very often succeded, anyway some good mellotron are interluded with guitars on some traks. For the first album 2.5 stars. Second release in their live album recorded in 1975, here are some psychedelic atmosphere combined with symphonic prog moments, not bad , but nothing realy something tot talk about, hardly 3 stars . Their third album and second studio album released in 1976 named The fountain beyond the sunrise is by far their best album from all the recordings, much more symphonic , much more mature, the compositions are well crefted, the sound is better, they gone in a good direction by for some resons never made it . This album very in Genesis style, features some good keybords arrangements, but the low point is the voice. So, overall I will give 3 stars , this compilation shows what this band offers in mid to late '70's, not a very strong band , but has some good compostions thst for sure. The cover art shown here is aswell from their second release The fountain beyond the sunrise, excellent btw, one of the best I've seen from prog zone, is a pitty that the music is not on same level. 3 stars.