This is the third album from a band who are in many ways an offshoot of The Samurai of Prog, and their second since the departure of keyboard player Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak, Camel), with the line-up being Rafael Pacha (saz, recorders, crumhorn, classical, acoustic & electric guitars, bouzouki, bodhrán, electric violin, mandolin, zither, keyboards, hulusi, cuatro, viola da gamba, dulcimer, cither, percussion, whistles, violin), Alessandro di Benedetti (keyboards, vocals), Marco Bernard (Shuker basses) and Kimmo Pörsti (drums & percussion, additional keyboards) along with assorted guests. Much of this is instrumental, with elements of Gryphon and Camel in particular as they combine folk elements with traditional and Neo prog, but for some weird reason it is an album I have found incredibly difficult to warm to.
I have no idea why, as it contains much I enjoy about progressive rock music, yet there seems very little in the way of soul and heart, and it feels much more like a clinical project as opposed to a band. It is all very clever, with clean presentation, broad use of different instrumentation, and there is no doubt all involved are highly skilled, yet it just doesn’t grab me like it should. I note that opinions are incredibly varied, with some listeners treating this as the finest offering since sliced bread, while others feel it is stale and just do not understand what all the fuss is about. I guess I am somewhat in the middle, as I really want to rave over this as in many ways, I feel it deserves it, yet there is no spark and whenever I finish playing it there is no huge desire to put it on again. They say beauty is in the ear of the beholder, or something like that, so all I can say is that it is worth hearing and you may feel it is a hidden gem, but don’t be surprised if it is also just a lump of rock.
Rating: 6/10
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Track list:
1. The Crusade of Earl Birger
2. Where Are You?
3. Omnis Saltat ad Solem
4. Blood and Oblivion
5. Lo Prometido es Deuda
6. Mary the Jewess
7. Luonto Puhuu
8. Sea and Sky
Links:
https://www.seacrestoy.com/