| Band
Members: |
Kenneth Aspeslåen / lead vocals,
basses and drums |
Mark Connors / electric and acoustic
guitars and background vocals |
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Stephen Rivera / acoustic and electric
pianos, organ, synthesizers and background vocals |
Gina Ballerina / sound efx on "Sleeper"
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Casel Pabloh / cello on "Searching"
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John Bogieheld / synthesizers and
backwards stuff on "Shadow Of A Man" |
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| Track
Listing: |
1.)-Wake The Dragon
(6:51) |
7.)-iv) Fanfare [5:25]
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2.)- Searching (4:26) |
8.)- v) Humanity Revisited [4:38]
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3.)- Man On The Moon
(4:25) |
9.)-vi) The Sleeper
Has Awakened [6:01] |
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The Grand Design (36:13)
-Tracks Below |
10.)-Timeless Moments
In Sherwood (4:21) |
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4.)- i) Overture [5:37] |
11.)- The Lathe Of
Heavem (5:22) |
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5.)-ii) The Grand Design [6:53]
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12.)-Afterglow (5:13) |
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6.)-iii) Shadow Of A Man [7:39]
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13.)- |
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| The
Review |
To the unfamiliar, Azureth is a progressive rock quarter
from the southwest whom have reprised a tried and true format
which has worked for many acts without being derivative. This
CD was the band's first with the original trio including original
drummer and vocalist Ken Aspeslåen who was a crucial part
of the band's early sound. Like many progressive rock acts
that verge on neo-prog, well-known rock and roll song structures
are an important aspect for compositions as well as hot chops
and that trademark symphonic sound. It's clear from the usage
of acoustic guitars and accompanying violin sounding keys
on "Searching" that the group has a strong attachment to Leftoverture
era Kansas. At times the group is comparable in execution
to Seattle's Ajalon or Glass Hammer (without the Christian
references) but there also some notable differences. Guitarist
Mark Connors shows good economy on most of his solos especially
on pieces such as "The Grand Design Part 2" or on "The Lathe
of Heaven". Lyrically many of the pieces are a bit over the
top but band arrangements help the listener over most of the
rough spots. Stephen Rivera's keyboard settings fluctuate
from mini-moog Wakeman esque leads to IQ like passages which
many will agree fit the material. The CC edition over disc
comes with two additional bonus tracks which were not available
at review time.
Jeff Melton
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