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Review:
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Here´s a band from Norway, founded in the early Nineties,
in 2000 Adventure released their eponymous debut album ,
then it took nine years to produce this successor entitled
Beacon Of Light (2009). -
The 13 compositions on Beacon Of Light (running time
around 72 minutes) are layered with the sound of vintage
keyboards (Hammond organ, choir – and violin-Mellotron section
and especially the Minimoog synthesizer), often in heavy
and bombastic atmospheres with hints of Heavy Prog bands
like Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore´s Rainbow
and Dutch pride Ayreon. Due to the raw, slightly theatrical
male vocals and frequent Minimoog flights also early Rick
Wakeman solo comes to my mind. For me the interesting element
in Adventure their music is the contrast between the omni-present
Heavy Prog sound (loaded with wah-wah guitar, sumptuous
Hammond organ and fat Minimoog flights), blended with songs
or interludes that contain mellow atmospheres (featuring
acoustic - and classical guitar, flute, Grand piano and
cello) and slow rhythms with wonderful, very sensitive electric
guitar work. My highlight is the long, varied and compelling
title track (Part 2), from the intro with flute and soaring
keyboards to a bombastic keyboard sound with fat Minimoog
runs and mindblowing Hammond (evoking Ken Hensley), majestic
choir-Mellotron drops and in the end a slow rhythm with
fiery wah wah guitar and again bombastic keyboards, goose
bumps! - Although their sound is not very original and at
some moments there is room for improvement in writing compositions,
in general this Norwegian formation succeeds to generate
a lot of excitement with their tasteful arranged compositions,
embellished with glorious sounding vintage keyboards and
exciting wah-wah drenched guitar play. Especially recommended
to Heavy Prog fans!
www.progwalhalla.com
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