Following Dreams :)
by Luna Muse
Many people have this band's widely acclaimed debut album that featured Michael Romeo guitar prodigy of Symphony X, Coleman "Colie" Brice on lead vocals from Gemini, NJ drumming legend Bob Nelson, Eric Walz,on bass, and the Phantom founder Jack Young - who started the band in 1969! Alec Jon Such from Bon Jovi appears on this album as well (Alec & Tico were in PHANTOM's OPERA before they joined Bon Jovi).
What people don't know is that the band whent on to record THREE more albums & counting. 1997's "So Long To Broadway" featured Karl Cochran on lead guitar (stints with Ace Frehley, Joe Lynn Turner, Arcara, Sebastian Bach).
So Long To Broadway had great tunes but the production quality was lacking. After nailing a deal with Victor/JVC of Japan the band was finally able to produce a stunning, major label quality recording that was co produced by famed engineer/producer Steve Evetts @ NJ's legendary TRAX EAST and mastered by GRAMMY winner Joe Palmaccio at Sterling Sound.. They also brought on yet ANOTHER guitar player - Bob Gilmartin (The ROSENBERGS, MYSTERY BLOOM, & currently NEW MACHINE). The result?
A powerful addendum to the vernacular of Rock & Roll history. . . Rarely does a band produce an album where sound quality, performance quality, and songwriting/music composition ALL come together. These guys did it! It's all there. It's a monster album that rocks, has soul, depth & MAGNITUDE! Following Dreams contains a mesmerizing, cohesive quality that engulfs serious listeners from start to finish. It is an aural epitome of contrasts - jubilant and somber, bombastic & delicate, Colie Brice rages with a plethora of intense, emotions that live up to his nick name of "the Chameleon", Nelson pounds with primal power like Bonham in one moment & the refined technical finesse of Peart in another, Gilmartin slices through and more than holds his own in an intimidating gig for lesser men, Walz in the lineman of this band, the steady hand that balances the EXTREMES of Jack & Colie's grappling yet harmonizinng polarities. There are obvious credence given to the Beatles , Led Zep and Queen, but the distuinguised listener will here hints of Rush, the Allman Brothers, the Stones, Styx & other classic rock icons. Yet there is an ethereal, dramatic, ghastly, melancholy, almost gothic tinge that is uniquely their own..
