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Empires Never Last : :
Galahad are veterans in the prog business. With a history dating back 22
years, and officially (?) releasing records since 1991, they certainly
have a pedigree.
For a band that has kept it going for so long, there's always a danger
of stagnation setting in, that the band gets stuck in a certain sound
and style. Although I'm not familiar with these guys from previously, I
doubt if this can be said for these guys. Because this release has an
overall contemporary sound and style, with certain nods and winks to
past styles included.
The musical style on this release isn't easy described. The more mellow
sections can remind a bit of Marillion as well as late 70's Eloy, but
the overall sound of the album reaches more out towards prog metal
territory.
The synth is present everywhere on the album, both as musical backdrop
as well as floating above the rest of the instruments in the mix. But
it's rarely the dominant instrument here.
The rhythm section is sharp, and in quite a few of the songs here drums
and bass are played prog metal style; hard, fast and sharp.
The guitars here has a dark, somewhat gritty sound to them, but still
polished. Not much frenetic riffing, even when riffing fast we're
allowed to hear the individual riff reverberate a bit before the next
riff comes; and quite often the individual riff is given a second or
three to make itself heard before the next one comes along.
Vocalist Stuart
Nicholson has a wonderful voice, which is used as an instrument in it's
own right on this release, nicely filling out the soundscape and
underlining melody and mood along with the synth.
The overall mood of the
album is a dark one, after opening mood piece De-Fi's angelic voices
we're thrown into another mood piece with a soundscape that could have
fitted perfectly in a horror movie. And throughout the rest of the
album, the mood continues being dark.
Most songs on this album are strong ones. Instrumental "Memoirs Form An
African Twin" is the only song a tad weaker than the rest here in my
opinion, and the nightmarish sounds of "Sidewinder" are in my ears more
of a sound and music collage than a regular song as such, but the rest
of the album here consists of strong tunes with good melodies, as well
as catchy and memorable chorus sections.
Personal highlights: "I Could Be God", "Empires Never Last"
Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
Empires Never Last (2007)
Year Zero (2002)
Other Crimes and Misdemeanors III (2001)
De-Constructing Ghosts (1999)
Following Ghosts (1999)
Decade (1997)
Other Crimes and Misdemeanors II (1997)
Classic Rock - Live (1996)
Sleepers (1995)
Voiceprint Radio Sessions (1994)
Not All There (1994)
In A Moment of Complete Madness (1993)
Nothing Is Written (1991) |
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