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Ian Parry Ian Parry's Consortium Project Review by Brian Angotti Ian Parry's Consortium Project is a new breed of rock for the new year. This album is a blend of powerful high-energy vocals and heavy guitar riffs. The Consortium Project is an awesome mixture of rockers Dio, Rush, and musically a bit like Dream Theater or Savatage. A lot of work went into this project and it definitely deserves a listen. Ian Parry and his many musical collaborators make this album something to impress fans of hard rock or prog. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 3 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years .

Track by Track Review

House of Cards The high-energy album opener, "House of Cards" is a heavy rock influenced track. This track's guitar solo is one of the strongest solos I've heard from a rock band in a long time!

Beauty of the Beast This song reminds one of the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album. It has that slow, down-tuned crunch similar to that of Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. Slow and hypnotic and punctuated with audio effects whooping and sweeping in the background like there are spaceships firing back and forth at each other from overhead. In the fadeout Glenn chants the chorus to you like you are standing next to him inside a dark, magick circle.

Banquet of Thieves This track opens with an electrifying keyboard and heavy guitar riff. Musically this could have been written for a Savatage album.

Evilworld "Evilworld" is one of the only pop rock influenced numbers on the diverse album. It is definitely a possible radio favorite.

Garden of Eden An awesome track, this one screams eighties Dio. It kicks off with keys and violent drums.

The Entity There is some excellent musicianship on this instrumental track. . The cut starts off with a bolt of lightning and leads into a fine guitar number.

Change Breeds Contempt A well written song lyrically, that writing competency translates well into the music.

A Miracle Is All We Need A melodic yet rockin ballad, this one comes complete with a touch of Savatage's "Edge of Thorns" musically.

The Snake "The Snake" is a cut created by heavy pounding drums and screaming guitars over melodic, Ronnie James Dio sounding, vocals.

Criminal & Kings A great intro begins this song. "Criminal & Kings" is a slower track but still kicks you into overdrive.

Chain of Fear Slow melodic music with an eighties rock feel, this is a rough sounding track with almost a live feel to it.

Pandora's Box There is some killer musicianship on this track. It is very prog influenced with long musical jams.

Humanitarian They saved the best for last with "Humanitarian". This is rock flavored with a harder edge. It has great lyrics and would be sure to do well on radio.

Bonus Track: Change Breeds Contempt (Demo Version) A demo version, this one is a rawer take on the cut.

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