|
|
|
|
Space Odyssey is a band propelled by the Swede Richard Andersson, one of the world's finest keyboard players. Since the release of their debut album "Embrace The Galaxy" in 2003 a few things have happened in the line-up. Original drummer Zoltan Csörsz has been replaced with Andreas Brobjer (also in Platitude) and one-time Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force bassist Marcel Jacob has left the band so that guitarist Magnus Nilsson now also handles bass duties. Progressive metal á la Space Odyssey requires extreme instrumental skills and Richard has managed to grab some of the most talented musicians from the south of Sweden. The problem with an album like this one is that it is very much about displaying technical abilities and speed. No-one can deny that Yngwie Malmsteen is an exceptionally talented guitarist but how exciting and how much fun is it to listen to advanced scales up and down in the long run?
Luckily Richard has put some focus on writing real songs on this album with the extremity being the last track "The Seventh Star Fantasy" which is a rather peculiar little thing with a simple but charming melody. Vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson (also in Astral Doors and Wuthering Heights) has a traditional hard rock voice and does a decent job here. Both his voice and style of singing reminds of what Dio did when he was fronting Rainbow in the mid to late 70s. The keyboard driven music of Space Odyssey has only very little to do with Rainbow but very much in common with the modern progressive sounds of Symphony X. The completely instrumental "Presence Of Mind" shows plenty of influences from classical music. If you fancy guitar solos, light-speed keyboards, really heavy riffs and unpolished hard rock vocals then this is for you. It will be a success in Japan, no doubt about that. Modern but with a slight retro touch. Nothing we haven't heard before but well done.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Through Dreams And Reality |
| 2. Astral Episode |
| 3. Lord Of The Winds |
| 4. Dazzle The Devil |
| 5. Back To The Dark |
| 6. Presence Of Mind |
| 7. Reversation |
| 8. The Seventh Star Fantasy |
: 53.34
| Buy other Space Odyssey albums |
