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SNOOZE (2CD)
FORGOTTEN SUNS
2004 , PORTUGAL - Out of print/Fuori stampa
Label: MAGIC ROPE MUSIC
ALBUM REVIEW
2CD 11 tracks - TT 80:54 + Interactive Multimedia Section incl. Video, Making Of, Lyrics etc. In 2001, the then still unknown Portuguese progressive rockers of Forgotten Suns had a small underground success with their ambitious debut album “Fiction Edge I”. The progressive rock with a touch of metal on that platter was of such quality that many predicted the band a bright future. The four-piece worked hard on a follow-up during the past three years, partly due to line-up changes and similar non-musical difficulties, but mostly because they didn’t want to disappoint their fans and followers as “Snooze” had to become a confirmation of their talent and abilities. Besides time, not much else was saved to make this record. Friend of the band and producer Jorge Avillez is now backing the band with their own label Magic Rope Music, which gave them the freedom to release their second album as they wanted to: a double concept album with interactive multimedia section and artwork by no-one less than Mattias ‘ProgArt’ Norén. Fortunately there’s more than the packaging to impress whoever buys this record. The catchy “Senses” for instance, first single off the album and subject to a quite professional video clip that can be found on the CD-ROM part, or the even better “Strange Affair With The Night”, one of the tracks the band are especially proud of and rightly so as it’s progressive rock at its best. “Dream Killer”, “Pay The Price”, “Struggle”, “Angels’ Embrace”, “The Final Sentence” and the series of short intermezzos all build further upon the foundations laid in those tracks. Most of the material is closest to the British so-called neo prog bands like IQ and Arena, albeit with a harder edge, but during the eighty minutes of playing time I heard influences of Rush, Toto and Dream Theater as well. Although “Snooze” is no match for recent albums by the big names in prog yet, it definitely is a great step forward for Forgotten Suns and a record quite worth buying! (Just for Kicks)
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