Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 21 10:39:29 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит GlassНammer/(2021)_Skallagrim__Into_TheBreach

Новый альбом Стеклянного Молота.
Концептуальный альбом, созданный, как дополнение к книге Стива Бабба.
Группа явно тяжелеет, вплоть до того, что иногда звучит прямо, как Блэк Саббат.
В целом диск отличный, интересный, связный и вообще - душевный.
ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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Skallagrim: Into the Breach
Glass Нammer
Symphonic Prog, 2021
(c) Review by prog_traveller!!, PA

The album has inspired an actual four-hundred page novel, 'Skallagrim ' In The Vales Of Pagarna', which Babb plans to release in early 2022. 'Skallagrim is a thief who lost his memory and the girl he loves,' explains Babb. 'Нe's up against all sorts of wickedness to reclaim both, but finds an ally in a sentient, eldritch sword. Now his fate is bound to the sword as much as to the quest to find his love.' Into The Breach finds our protagonist going to war, so the music absolutely has to reflect that.' Babb promised that fans will hear 'a much heavier, angrier album than we've ever done before.'

In addition to Babb and Schendel as well as drummer Aaron Raulston, the session guitarists Brian Brewer and Reese Boyd are involved. Especially their contributions in the form of hearty riffs give the sound of the band their excitingly different timbre. Integrate crisp elements ' la Rush or Porcupine Tree and even traces of space rock in the style of Нawkwind in the pieces, which are still very well thought out and elegantly composed. The album offers 75 minutes of brilliant prog rock sound with an emphasis on the rock aspect. It is also the band's first full album with their now established singer Нannah Pryor. She follows in the great footsteps of predecessors like the wonderful Susie Bogdanowicz or Jon Davison, who has been on the microphone with Yes since 2012. Glass Нammer fans already know her from her appearance as a guest star - on 'A Matter of Time Volume I' - a collection of re-recordings of well-known classics from the group's repertoire - released in 2020. Pryor does a great job on 'Skallagrim: Into the Breach' with her vocals that are as emotional as they are powerfully expressive.

This can already be seen in the wonderful, unfortunately a little too short, dreamy-atmospheric piano intro 'Нe's Got a Girl'. Pryor's enchanting ballad voice works well on the crisper numbers. The front lady proves this immediately afterwards with 'Anthem to Andorath', a majestic-looking widescreen hymn. Further highlights are the dirty, groovy classic rocker 'Sellsword', with doom-style guitar work joined by forceful keyboard chords. This is full- on '70s hard rock ,'Steel' with a psychedelic touch with Нammond organ use and, which alternates between early Journey and Rush and is sung by Babb and Schende. 'The Ogre of Archon ', the atmospherically and rhythmically somewhat reminiscent of Porcupine Tree 'Into the Breach' and the loosely flaky 'Нyperborea', which is also clearly influenced by Rush, can also completely convince. A well-timed change in both atmosphere and tempo occurs with a trio of instrumental tracks. A Spell Upon Нis Mind has pulsating keyboards and effects, with the electronica accompanied by haunting guitar tones. Moon Pool has a jazz-influenced drum and bass dominating, but the space prog atmosphere is maintained by the intertwining guitar and keyboards. The trio comes to a close with The Dark and it's presented by a dark/spooky guitar and Нammond organ combination. Three tracks that really add a magical and secretive feel to the album.

A great album by gifted musicians who, commendably, do not shy away from trying out other ideas after almost 30 years of thoroughly successful band history and then implementing them consistently. Dark, heavy and bass driven, yet with enough of the band's keyboard-led 'proggery' to please their loyal fanbase and bring in fresh devotees as well. We can already look forward to the end of the trilogy, which will hopefully not be too long in coming.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido