BANKS OF EDEN

This took me quite a while to reach a decision on a rating. I purchased the album the day it was released, and after finding "The Sum Of No Evil" to be one of The Flower Kings' best albums, I expected more after a five year absence.

Numbers, at twenty five minutes, is obviously the star of this album. It begins with some promising dark riffs, And of course, the musicianship is impeccable, but for long periods throughout the song is plagued by cloying, treacly melodies. I understand that Roine Stolt has always written this way, but the length and frequency of these sections make this track tedious at times.

The next three tracks are in the classic TFK style: modern symphonic prog, with more than a few hints of Yes influences. They are good, but offer very little to expand the reperoire of the group. The closing track, Rising The Imperial is just too sedate for my tastes, and does not leave me wanting more.

The bonus tracks are interesting, but I can understand why they are not on the official album disk, as they do not seem to fit the theme. Illuminati and Fireghosts both seem to be aPink Floyd influenced. The former sounds very much like Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and the latter sound more like the songs from "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. Going Up is another Yes-styled song, and LoLines is my favorite on this short disk, a herd rocker.

No, I don't hate the album, I just expected much more from these guys.