This is the second album by the artists formerly known as “Witsend.” Syzygy is a Cleveland, Ohio-based band made up of Carl Baldassarre, Paul Mihacevich and Sam Giunta plays piano. Al Rolik provides guest bass guitar on “Beggar’s Tale” and “Light Speed.”

As Syzygy’s (under that name) first release, it was like starting over, this time with more lyrics and some additional help from Al Rolik, who would later join the band to make it a four piece group. The album is a continued progression of the virtuoso talent that was showcased on the Witsend set Cosmos and Chaos. This time they attempted even larger epics and built a strong two part concept album in the template of progressive music’s masters. This was the album where the group found their “game” and prepared to take their place amongst the pantheon of progressive greats.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2011  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

“The Allegory of Light”, is the first side of what used to be a two sided epic record album, with “In the Age of Mankind” as the second side.  This nearly twenty minute epic opens with “M. O. T. H.” Spacey keys and mystical sounds help start the track with that wonderful bubbling mellotron like synth. It is a precursor to the bass, guitars and drums that eventually explode the soundscape into a glorious overture. After being completely immersed in sound, the acoustic and classic guitar mix take over with Mihacevich’s vocals lending words to the story. They proceed on to a bass, lead electric and keyboard extravaganza featuring Giunta at his very best. One of the early trademarks that make this band so unique is their ability to change on the fly. Don’t get too comfortable with that mellotron keyboard sound, because soon a power bass or lead electric chord will rip through to take the lead. They mix it up perfectly. Though they deliver some excellent riffs, they don’t dwell. This is dynamic music that keeps growing and changing within the piece. The mix of so many different time signatures would flabbergast most musicians. There is so much happening and we’re only at the beginning of this epic track. This number allows them to display their talent. The way they mix blistering guitar rock so well with deeply progressive riffs in such an intricate way, make this opener one of the best parts of this epic. But we’ve only just begun.