Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Progmetal, Heavy Rock | Heft: Jahrgang 2012, eclipsed Nr. 137 / 2-2012 | VÖ-Jahr: 2012 | Wertung: 6/10 | Label: 10t | Autor: AS
The Anabasis is the project of author George Andrade and songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Barry Thompson. For their debut album, the two Americans recruited ten (!) musical guests for drums, vocals, keys and lead guitar in addition to Norwegian singer Per Fredrik Åsly and Spock's Beard keyboarder Ryo Okumoto as permanent band members. The many cooks did not spoil the porridge, but unfortunately it has remained porridge - in the sense of uniform porridge. The three shorter tracks and the three longtracks lasting between 14 and 23 minutes remain too interchangeable for anything to get stuck on them or even to experience any aha-effect with them. There is not much to criticize in terms of craftsmanship about the socio-political concept of three past civilizations (Vikings, Romans, Egyptians). However, the vocals could be more rousing and more committed. And the many guitar solos in the epic, concertante music between shallow (metal) prog and melodic rock are partly quite nice, but should, especially with a total of four lead guitarists, differ more clearly from each other.
Top track: Epiphany
