LEGEND OF THE BONE CARVER

What can one expect from another Dream Theater clone? Originallity? Hardly. The album begins with a very extra-cheesy spoken word narration speaking of some sort of legend about some person in some distant land that I don't care about, then the music comes in. Oh, dear. What is this I am heearing? I hate it when bands as musically cpabale as this can't write anything memorable at all. Guitar wankery that Petrucci himself would be appauled at, which is saying quite alot. While other Prog Meatl acts in the same vein such as Dream Theater, Symphony X and Pain of Salvation have always managed to at least keep me interested in even the most blad of moments, Pyramaze offers nothing on this release that even slightly holds my attention for more than eleven seconds, and sometimes even that is pushing it.

The artwork is very intruiging to the eye, and the name just oozes 'epic masterpiece'-- don't fall for it. The outward appearance of this pointless entry is misleading and actually appears the house something worth listening to. Alas, what we actually find in LEGEND OF THE BONE CARVER is just more Power Metal that tries to be progressive, but only gets as far as the cool band name and logo. When it actually comes to writing anything worth two seconds of our time, the Pyramaze boys must not have the actual talent required to make something memorable. After all, what is technical skill without the talent every great musician uses to actually do something with it? I don't care how well you can play your instrument; if you lack the artistic expression necessary to paint an actual work of art, the technical ability is useless. Such is the case with many so-called 'progressive' bands of today, and Pyramaze is no exception. Unfortunate, but true. Listen to some Ayreon or Symphony X if you want to hear epic Prog Metal. Don't waste your time or money with Pyramaze. I ended up wasting both, and I personally want that wasted part of my life back.