SOLIDARITY - LIVE IN KONIN

Since the release of the "Empires Never Last" , the band has taken a new direction with Karl Groom (Threshold) as an engineer. The Marillion or Genesis influence has been replaced by a more heavier sound. This live show spread out in 2 audio disk and 1 video demonstrate that new direction even further. The live versions of the songs seems to have a heavier sound compare to the studio versions. From the first song "Salvation I Overture" we almost have the feeling of being in a dance club dancing on a techno beat from the keyboard player Dean Baker. In the next song who is the suite, the singing begin with a faster tempo and the heavy sound. "Guardian Angel" has a melodic chorus with some clear Riverside passages. "Empires Never Last" brings things down on the first part with some improvisation in the middle of the song. "And Secret Worlds display some impressive piano lines throughout the song. "This Life could be my Last" is a favorite for the crowd with his dramatic melody carried by the emotional vocals of Stuart Nicholson. This live show could not exist without the old epic "Sleepers" who is still amazing on this live recording. It is clear that the band wanted to sound modern with some techno effects, heavy guitars and trying to get away from the Neo-Prog tag and probably prefer to be tag a symphonic Rammstein! The DVD of this show don't have a picture quality as good as the previous one : "Resonance", but it's still pleasant with a good stereo sound.

On September 2nd 2011 bassist Neil Pepper finally succumbed to cancer, and this had a major impact both on the band and all those who had the privilege to meet him. What was the band going to do after this? They had recorded two albums with Neil, both of which were released in 2012, but how would they perform them live? Actually they didn't have to look too far, as keyboard player Dean Baker and guitarist Roy Keyworth had been helping out in Twelfth Night, which also featured multi-instrumentalist Mark Spencer. It was soon agreed that he would join them for gigs, and then in 2014 Tim Ashton returned to the fold, so this album captures quite a short-lived line-up. Recorded in Konin, Poland, on 26th October 2013, this double CD and single DVD set finds a band who in many ways are very different indeed to the band I saw so many times in the Nineties. Yes, singer Stu Nicholson, guitarist Roy Keyworth and drummer Spencer Luckman are still very much involved as they were back in the day, but this is an outfit that has progressed in many ways indeed.

At one time they were very much part of the neo-prog scene, heavily influenced by the likes of Marillion and IQ, but they have changed quite dramatically over the years, and how have a much heavier and dense sound. Dean has a wonderful approach on keyboards. Knowing when to be quiet, reflective, and 'progressive' in approach but he also knows what it takes to move into a far more metallic area. Spencer has grown in confidence over the years and has become much more of a rock or even metallic drummer, really pounding the kit, while Roy has turned it all up and provides a much more powerful platform. With all this mayhem going on it probably isn't surpriing that Stu's vocals have also gained a depth and breadth that they didn't have previously ' he still hits all the notes, but now they are quite a different proposition than before.

I am sure that a lot of this is down to the person who mixed and edited this album, Karl Groom, who has been working with the band now for some years. There are only a few of the older numbers included in this set, and one of these should be called out for special mention. After everything having been turned up to the max, and the audience blasted into submission, they come back for the encore. Or more truthfully, Stu returns on his own to sing 'Painted Lady' totally a capella. It takes a brave singer to do that at any time, let alone after already performing for ninety minutes, and he nails it. Totally. This album is a great introduction to the Galahad of today, and one that makes me regret now living so very far away, as I am unlikely ever to catch them in the flesh again, and these guys are proving yet again that they are one of the bes prog acts around.