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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Imagery

The Inner Journey

Review by Gary Hill

The mix of sounds on this is quite cool. At times there is fusion and jazz. At other points hard rock like Deep Purple is heard. Add in a lot of Dream Theater and some metallic sound and you’ll be in the right neighborhood. This is quite a strong album. Fans of modern, rather metallic prog will love it.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2014  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Fourth Secret

This powers in with a heavy rock sound. Keyboards and other elements bring a Dream Theater meets Deep Purple vibe. There is some killer riffing on this tune and the whole thing just really rocks. Different instruments show off at different points here. This is a furious and continually shifting instrumental that works very well to open the set. It segues straight into the next piece.

Imagery
Heavy and furious, this is metallic progressive rock. The vocals at times bring it closer to the metal end of the spectrum, but keyboards and the shifts and changes make it clear that this is prog. There is a shift out to a real fusion jam later, too. From there it turns to pure jazz for a time. After that the cut gets more of a rock vibe and again different instruments lead the way. I really love the expanded bass presence on this piece.
Perception
The extended introduction on this has some Dream Theater, some Rush and some fusion in the mix. It gives way to one of the most straightahead rock and roll verses. The chorus has a lot of metal built into it. A number of shifts and changes emerge as this cut continues. It seems to have a bit of everything that this group seems to portray. There is a drop back to a piano based movement later, too.
Start the War
While this is more mainstream than anything we’ve heard so far, it’s still a hard rocking and proggy number with a lot of metal in the mix.
The Rain
Here we get a cut that’s more metallic. In fact, I’d say if the whole album were more like this, I’d probably land it under metal. It’s not, though. It’s got a definite thrash vibe to it. Still, they manage to work a number of shifts and changes into this beast and it does work towards fusion at times.
Show Me
Jazz and prog are the order of business here. This is a much mellower tune. It’s melodic, dramatic and pretty. There are still some timing changes and more at play. It does have a more rocking sound near the end, but never rises to the same metallic level that permeates most of the disc.
Stranger
Thrashy progressive rock is the sound that starts this. Some of the instrumental twists and turns on this are among the coolest ones of the disc.
Last
The closer is really quite a diverse number. Sections of this are tied to older prog. Other parts fit in with the newer, more metallic sound. It moves this way and that and different parts take over here and there. It always manages to groove, though. It’s definitely the strongest piece on the disc.
 
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