ILLUSION SUITE

This year hasn't seen many prog metal releases I've truly enjoyed, Votum's "Harvest Moon" being an exception. Actually, this is just the continuation of a trend for me, as I'm a little tired of seeing metal bands rehash the same stuff over and over again. Illusion Suite, however, changed this for me. Their new album, "The Iron Cemetery", is hands-down the best progressive power metal album I've heard since Theocracy's "As the World Bleeds" or Darkwater's "Where Stories End".

Speaking of those two bands, Illusion Suite is pretty similar in terms of heaviness, vocals, and instrumentals. This means that we get a ton of killer riffs mixed with some epic keys--- music you can head bang to, if that's your thing. Illusion Suite, however, has not offered up a simple rehash of others' works like so much of metal today. The band has offered an impressive album with super-catchy choruses, unique touches, and a strange concept having to do with Tesla.

"The Iron Cemetery" is impressive on many fronts. First and foremost, vocalist Bill Makatowicz makes this relatively short album what it is. These are some of the best vocals of the year, as Bill again and again hits high highs, and can seemingly annunciate both words and tone perfectly. I was impressed even after several listens as he perfectly forms the notes and octaves in the choruses with hyper precision and power.

I was also blown away by some of the unique riffs in this album. Guitarist Kim Jacobsen hits it where it counts and delivers grooves worthy of the top tier of prog metal. Lastly, although the rest of the band performs incredibly, the keyboardist/drummer (yes, both!) Kevin Bjorge takes the instrumental cake with his electronica-influenced technique on keys. He doesn't overdo it: He simply adds atmosphere that accentuates the metal, or adds touches that makes a certain hook or breakdown feel earth-shatteringly powerful.

Overall, the music is first rate. Illusion Suite has singlehandedly brought back my prog metal interest. In a year with so many amazing releases in other subgenres of prog, Norway's Illusion Suite has stood tall and declared their right to hang with the best of progressive music.

"The W.I.R.E." builds quickly to a heavy mode.Vocals a minute in. Background synths with vocals and heavy outbursts. It's okay. A brief guitar solo before 4 minutes then a calm before it kicks back in. "Scarlet Skies" settles quickly with vocals.Some nice prominant bass around a minute then it kicks back in. "The Devil In Your Heart" is smoother but the drums are very upfront as usual. "Once We Are Here" features synths and a powerful sound as the vocals join in. I like the brief guitar solo a minute in. A calm 5 minutes in to end it. "A Moment To Remember" has these reserved vocals and a pastoral intro. It kicks in after a minute with fat bass.

"The Passage" has double bass drumming all over it with vocals standing out. I love the last 40 seconds or so. "Pandora's Box" opens with synths as guitar joins in tastefully.Vocals and a beat follow. Crunchy guitar before 2 minutes. A music box 3 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in. "The Adventures Of Arcan" has these heavy outbursts with background synths.Vocals 2 minutes in. A calm before 3 minutes with synths. Sampled words too before it kicks back in. Another calm before 7 1/2 minutes but it's brief.The tempo continues to shift. "A Ghost From The Past" is the closing track which is pretty straightforward and melodic.

A low 3 stars.

I originally picked this album up on a whim because the sticker on the front likened them to Pagan's Mind (one of my favorites) and Circus Maximus. Actually, it said: "Illusion Suite belong to the leaders of the Norwegian Prog Metal scene beside Pagan's Mind and Circus Maximus. "Final Hour" is a musical masterpiece without any weaknesses whatsoever." Well... I didn't find it to be that exactly, but I was not disappointed

The songs are definitely guitar-driven with a lot of riffing, multi-part vocals, substantial keyboard presence, and occasional power metal elements (e.g., double-bass pedal passages). However, extended song structure and exploration of a variety of musical elements definitely earn them the prog metal label. They also have one track (A Moment to Remember) that includes a guest female vocalist who performs a duet with Makatowicz. Unfortunately, the female vocal lines sound far too much like nü metal and don't really add much to the song.

One complaint about this album is that the songs are thematically disjoint. At first glance, it seems like there should be an overarching theme or concept connecting the tracks. However, when you dig deeper you find that such a connection doesn't exist. This is probably due to the fact that they have re-used a lot of earlier material from their earlier EPs/demos. "Final Hour" includes 2 tracks from 2004's "Demo One" and all 5 tracks (minus the intro) from 2005's "The Adventures of Arcan" EP. Which leaves only 3 new tracks on this album ("The W.I.R.E.", "A Moment to Remember", and "A Ghost from the Past"). However, this is a common problem on debut albums... so we can't hold too much against them.

Bottom line: this album is a solid 3 stars. Songs like "The W.I.R.E.", "A Ghost from the Past", and the 15 minute long "The Adventures of Arcan" show a lot of promise of good things to come. This is definitely a band worth keeping an eye on.

Atmospheric keyboard, virtuoso guitar, heavy drum 'n' bass and high pitch vocal, they have all musical requirements for a good prog power metal band.

I really want to write something else about the album but since the originality and personality is rather lacked, I have not much choice of word. One thing I do certain, however, is that they are really good at this and the album sound surprisingly well-- considering that this is a debut! I'll keep my watchful eyes on them and their next album.

Very good progressive power metal album. Recommend!