Days Before Tomorrow The Sky Is Falling Review by Gary Hill
I like this band. I’m not sure how comfortable I am putting them into progressive rock, but they do call themselves that – and honestly they are close. These guys take an AOR rock sound and merge it with both modern and old school prog sounds to create something that should appeal to fans of all three styles. The thing is, they are a great band. Every person is gifted and they have a knack for writing good songs. I just think they should take a few more chances and not play it so close to the safety zone. Here’s looking forward to their next disc and enjoying this one in the meantime.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2009 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Lighters
There is a cool melodic guitar based section that starts this cut. The keyboards that come across later are equally tasty. The vocals soar above with the high register concept that's so common in prog rock. There is a cool movement later that alternates between weird keys and some seriously crunchy rock. The guitar solo segment that comes next has some killer crunch guitar built into it. The hooks on this song are really catchy, too.
Wrong The main song structure on this reminds me of something from Mike and the Mechanics, but they bring some real prog in here and there and the wall of sound chorus is killer.
Last Song
While a big chunk of this track is in the vein of AOR music – and is rather average (but done with class) the chorus is a soaring one and there are some killer prog elements – and a great empowering theme – to the song.
Can't Go Back
A lot of this track is almost metal, and yet there’s a cool Rush meets fusion segment later. I like this track a lot.
Wasted Years I: Confrontation
With pretty symphonic overtones this is a balladic number with a keyboard dominance. The arrangement on this gets quite involved and powerful at times, but it never ceases to be balladic.
Wasted Years II: Sleepwalking
A powerful rock motif makes up this cool cut. It feels very much like a continuation of the number that came before, but this is a lot more potent in terms of rock. It’s also a cut that I don’t think many would argue against calling prog rock. This has some powerful vocal performances and scorching instrumental work.
In the Air
Just over a minute in length, this is a pretty and intricate acoustic guitar based instrumental.
The Sky Is Falling
This fires in with a crunch guitar sound but modulates out into some more pure progressive rock. I’d equate this to a more proggy King’s X. There is a killer ambient keyboard based interlude in this and then it moves to an acoustic guitar driven section that reminds me a lot of mid period Rush. Even as it rises up from there I can definitely hear Rush still in the mix – particularly the bass line. They take it back out to the song proper after a little segue.
Can't Do Anything
Much of this is fairly straightforward rock, but yet there’s a killer prog element to it throughout. There are also some intriguing more full progressive rock breaks. The instrumental movement around the three and a half minute is particularly tasty and has as much in common with vintage progressive rock as it does with the modern incarnation.
Survival
Not a real standout, the vocals are the one thing that really make this work. There’s also a strong instrumental break later, though.
Your Kate
Take some Fates Warning. Blend in some pure progressive rock. Then bring a more catchy and accessible rock hook. Now you’ve got a good idea of what this song is like.
You're Not the One
This is good. It’s just not a standout and the band’s formula is beginning to wear a bit thin. Still, this one probably crosses into metal further than just about anything else and there’s one killer riff on hand.
Wasted Years III: The Silence Is Deafening
A powerhouse number, this is arguably the most dynamic – and most pure prog, piece on show here. It’s a great tune and a great way to bring it back to the air.
Lighters (Reprise) They close it with a short reprise of the disc’s opener to serve as a nice bookend.
