DANSE MACABRE

This is the second album from the multi-national band. As you may guess, it has massive violin sounds throughout the album. The opening track "The Journey" is a song heavily influenced by classical music. The intro part may remind you to KEITH EMERSON's solo album with additional note on violin sounds. The piano part is similar. There are many musical breaks with touchy violin melody and/or piano. First listening of this track reminds me to a violin-based classic music. But it's not pure violin instrument that dominates the track as solo piano is performed brilliantly as well. It's a great track!

"The Castle" is a mellow track with touchy and memorable melody. The vocal voice is nice with violin and cello at its background. I really like this track. It reminds me to BABE RUTH's "The Runaway". No drumming in this track. The silent situation is then continued with energetic violin and cello sounds that dominate the intro of third track "The Duel". It's very uplifting track. It represents further explorations of multi- violins and cello used in this album. The composition is like an avant-garde music. If you enjoy this track and observe its detail, you will find it interesting. But if you just play this track while doing other things, you may conclude that this track is too heavy. In the middle of the track there is a dazzling bass played nicely. For me, I find this track very enjoyable as the violin sounds were pushed till its limits.

The fourth track " The Cloister " has a vocal melody in the vein of Rick Wakeman's King Arthur album. The melody is nice. The fifth track "The Decision" is a composition that comprises violins and acoustic guitar in its intro, influenced by blues rock. The acoustic guitar fills are nice and they sound like acoustic guitar sound in "Silent Lucidity" track of QUEENSRYCHE. I know, the later was released in the 80's. Probably this track has inspired QUEENSRYCHE? Well, I don't know. It could be a coincident.

"The Prisoner" (hey, this is not RICK WAKEMAN's "No Earthly Connection" that I love too) is opened by dynamic combination of violin / cello and bass followed by vocal line. Again, it's an excellent track. Wow! I like the violin sounds in this track. It's so stunning!!!! Especially those that accentuate the vocals. Wonderful! There is a simple solo acoustic guitar (?) in the middle of this track. The concluding track "Dance Macabre" is an uplifting and energetic instrumental piece. Stunning violins and cellos combined with organs.

I used to rate this album is second to "The Last Tango". But, having listened to it in greater details, I find that this album deserves a FIVE STAR rating. This rating may apply automatically to those of you who like violin-based rock music such as DAVID CROSS. But, it's different kind of music than JEAN LUC PONTY (that I don't understand why it's not included in this PROG ARCHIVES website. In my opinion, PONTY is prog to the corner. It should be included in this website as well. What do you think?.) - Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.