Vocals:9
Lyrics:10
Instrumentals:9
Replay Value:9
Overall:9
Summary:This album (and band) is the brain child of Arjen Anthony Lucassen and the huge number of artists he got in to execute the fruit of his imagination is overwhelming. He gets a new set on each album, but on this one in particular, there were about 8 different vocalists alone, all of amazing quality. Most notably would be James LaBrie of Dream Theater whos dynamic voice plays the role of the main character of the story of the album, and Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend Band, two of Canada's best industrial metal acts, who plays the element of (quite fittingly) rage.
The album follows the struggle of a man, his friend, and his lover after he is trapped inside himself, in a coma for twenty days following a car crash. Each day represents a different element of life, both stages and emotions, such as his issues with his father and his insecurities.
The instrumentalists on the album are none that i recognize instantly, but they do an incredible job of making the music fit the story, ranging from accoustic folk ballads, to synth driven melodies, and straight forward heavy metal. This massive two disc album is in my top 5 prog albums i've had the joys of listening to.
Noteworthy Tracks:Day Six: ChildhoodThis song is one of the first to show the mans poor relationship with his father, and the pain of his early years. It is led by a syncopated keyboard melodie, and features a cool flute/keyboard solo. James LaBrie shows just how well he can sing to the soft side, with a very emotional offering.
Agony] You're hiding out in the cellar
Aching and ashamed, covering up the bruises
[Me] And then he would tell her
How I tripped and hurt my head, how I'd always be a loser
[Fear] You always let him down; 'you'd never be like him'
He'd always break you, never let you win
No matter what you said, he'd always disagree
You swore that one day you would be
better than him...one day you'd win
Day Seven: HopeThis very uplifting song features the mans best friend calling out to him and the man responding in his head. This is a prime example of how beautifully the music matches the lyrics and the story, finishing with some guitar blasts as the man struggles to escape from his mind and break back into the world in desparation.
[Best Friend] Look ahead and see
There are still so many borders we could cross
Just you and me
Making up for all the time that we have lost
[Best Friend] So much to see
[Me] He may be right
[Best Friend] so much to live for
[Me] I've got to fight
[Best Friend] Questions to answer
[Me] I will pull through
[Best Friend] places to go
[Me] take me with you
[Best Friend] So much to be
[Me] I will not break
[Best Friend] so much to care for
[Me] I must awake
[Best Friend] Deep down inside I think you know
[Me] I think I know
[Best Friend] You are free
[Me] I am free
[Best Friend] Come back to me!
[Best Friend] Aaaah, aaaah come back to me
[Me] There's no way out, my whole world is black!
[Best Friend] Aaaah, aaaah come back to me
[Me] I try to shout, something's holding me back!
Day Ten: MemoriesThis song is about the man's best friend and his wife trying to awake him from his coma by reminding him of things in his life. It has strong emotion, as well as some powerful guitar work. One of my favorite songs on the album, just because it puts value on the simple things in life and shows the interesting side of what is remembered, which is often small events. It ends with the man struggling to reach back tio them and some of his inner elements encouraging him.
[Wife and Love] Do remember that time
Alone at last, naked by the fire
[Best Friend and Pride] Then all your friends came by,
They rushed in the room and you had no time to hide
[Wife and Love] Do you recall that day,
You proposed to me fell down to your knee
[Best Friend and Pride] You didn't know what to say,
So she knelt down to for she thought you'd lost your keys!
[Wife and Love] Do you remember that time?
[Best Friend and Pride] Do you recall that day?
[Passion] Can you see her light
Shining through the black
She's reaching out to you
What's holding you back?
[Reason] Can you feel her warmth
Glowing on your skin
Don't repress the memories
Let them all in...
Day Eleven: LoveThis song is as powerful as the emotion and also similarly is both soft and other times violent, unleashing a storm of passion. It is the best musical form of the emotion i have ever heard. It shows all the elements that go with love; passion, agony, and fear. Basically this song is just straight up awesome.
[Me] There I was, nervous and shy
Struck with awe as I caught her eye
I mustered up courage and walked her way
Figuring out what to do...what to say
[Love] Her heart sings as she sees you come near
The music fades, the crowd disappears
She weeps in silence as you pass her by
And she's wondering why...oh why
[Passion] Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
[Pride] Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Let her in, let her in, let the party begin!
[Agony] Remember your father, well you're just like him
Nothing but violence and fury within
Remember your mother, so lonely and sad
This will be her fate if you treat her as bad
[Fear] You're afraid she might turn you down
All your hopes dashed to the ground
Nobody loved you, nobody will
Why should you even try...but still...
Day Sixteen: LoserThis song goes from folk (Including Digeredoo!) to some reasonably heavy metal. It includes for the second half at least, Devin Townsend, which makes it great automatically. It blends a mix of violin, flute, keyboards, and both accoustic and electric guitar songs, and does a great job not overpowering anything. It has the memory of the man's father talking him down, until his rage comes out and screams back:
"NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!
You're killing it from afar, go tell it in a bar
You're killing it from afar my father!"Its full of great instrumentals mixed with great vocals and lyrics.
[Father] I came here to watch you bleed, oh how I love to gloat
If you had any balls at all, you'd grab me by the throat
You don't even look like me, ha! Not even close!
You're an aberration, some freak...I suppose, loser!
I had my fun, I'm going back to the place I don't call home
There's no one there who waits for me, but you won't hear me moan
My ex-wives all sue me, and with half my kids in jail
I'll still come out laughing, cause me? I never fail, loser!
[Rage] NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!
You're killing it from afar, go tell it in a bar
You're killing it from afar my father!
This is an expensive album, spanning two discs, around $40 from what i've seen, so if it's above your price comfort zone for an album, go and download it, I have a link or 2 if need be.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=41152462EDIT: Found some videos.
