Among my favorite concept albums of all time!
by gunaseel
I have been a progger for nearly a decade now, and this album has been among the nicest musical surprises over the years, right up there with Dream Theater’s Images & Words, Spock’s Beard’s The Light, and Tangent’s Music that Died Alone. I got drawn in through the website, and before long, I knew I was onto something cool. Looking back, however, I was totally unprepared for how intelligent the concept was, how nicely the music complemented it, and how well the album has endured and in fact improved over repeated listenings. This is a truly standout concept album, with a simple but beautifully executed theme, absolutely no filler, with every song holding its own and fitting seamlessly in the story. Its one of the few albums that I play straight through without having to skip a song. Among the many highlights for me are Courage Against the Rage, with its downright stunning imagery, and the title track which has many musical changes but flows gorgeously against the backdrop of the story. The music covers many styles, and is best classified as progressive rock with tinges of prog metal, and is a real treat for fans of rock guitar and keyboards alike. To the uninitiated: Invest a little time to understand the concept, listen to the album on a good pair of headphones, and then then hit repeat on your iPod for endless prog bliss!!
