EMBRACE THE GALAXY

Space Odyssey is the band of great keyboard player Richard Andersson known from another progressive metal with neo classical touch named Majestic. After this band was disbanded in 2001 , Andersson decided to form another band , this time with more progressive metal elelents then before. First album od Sapce Odyssey named Embrace the galaxy issued at Regain records, like the next album, in 2003, have members from Flower Kings - the drumer Zoltan Csorsz, one of the best drumers from newer generation of musicians, great here, Magnus Nilsson from Time Requiem (this is another band where Richard Andersson is the main man of the band), Marcel Jacob from Malmsteen fame and the excellent vocalist Patrik Johansson from Lion's Share and Wuthering Heights. So another I might say big band, with famous musicians and in same time very talented. As you can figure the music Space Odyssey playes is something between Yngwie Malmsteen (Odyssey era 1988), some moments remind me of the previous band of Andersson, Majestic - progressive metal with a lot of neo classcism moments. If the voice of Patrik Johansson is very good, in place excellent, he remind me of Dio meets Coverdale (when he sings in lower register), the music to my ears, no matter how professional sounds, is a little the same with the hundred bands playing this music. No bad of course, but nothing intristing happens here. Some blistering keys are interluding very well with the guitars, but is like I'm hearing this album before on another band. I will give 3 stars, a good one for sure, but nothing special, their second one Astral episode is their most mature work and their best from all 3 for sure. If you like Malmsteen, Seven Seraphim, Time Requiem, Majestic this band can give you some good moments.