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On disc: Neverland



Reversing Time - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars
Ophidia - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars


www.neverlandofficial.com







Ophidia

Ophidia
(AFM Records - 2010)


Two years ago Neverland, the cooperation of Turkish band Dreamtone and Greek singer Iris Mavraki, presented Reversing Time. At their debut they had Tom S. Englund and Hansi Kürsch as guests, now on Ophidia they welcome Jon Oliva (Savatage, TSO), Urban Breed (Bloodbound, ex-Tad Morose) and Edu Falaschi (Angra, Almah, ex-Symbols). Again the Turkish-Greek cooperation offer some progressive metal tune with symphonic elements, power and heaviness. And so the opener This Voice Inside shows heavy riffing, complex parts, progressive elements and a catchy vocal line. The following Silence The Wolves is a powerful progressive metal track, but a break leads into an short semi-acoutic part, then they speed up a bit and an expressive guitar solo - partly with dual leads - will win you over. Ophidia is a sonic roller coaster ride with Oriental vocal parts by Iris Mavraki, growls, harmony vocals, riff-based parts which have a dark edge and symphonic passages. Will Of God is kicking off slowly and with folk elements, afterwards they stick to the folk elements, but speed up and get quite heavy... Invisible War reminds me a bit of old Skyclad and Elvenking... Jon Oliva's distinguish voice stick out, but I'm not sure, if his vocals really do the song any good... No One Leaves The Hive is a powerful track which can hook you up right away. Great guitar play. At Speak To Me the symphonic elements are a bit more prominent, so you find some citations of classic pieces. At the same time the song has a dark enthralling atmosphere. Ashes To Fall shows some similarities to Kamelot, at least partly. The closer is called Into The Horizon, an instrumental journey which leads you out of Ophidia.
Personally I prefer the debut album, but I think that's a matter of taste mainly, coz Neverland offer good songs with different sound elements. It might be the more folk-ish and less symphonic sound... A unique band with a large variety of sounds, even if there are some reminiscences, they do their own thing. So it comes down to personal preferences.


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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Reversing Time

Reversing Time
(AFM Records - 2008)


Neverland is a project of the Turkish prog power metal band Dreamtone and the Greek singer Iris Mavraki who usually is working with orchestras or is doing some Greek folk songs - and tours successfully. The project started back in 2006 to work on their musical vision. They wanted some symphonic, fantasy metal album with power and also progressive elements. And so they hooked up with Philarmonia Istanbul Orchestra and some guests. The cover of Reversing Time was created by Jean Pascal Fournier and gives you a glimpse into Neverland.
Very symphonic Shooting Star the opening track kicks off, but quite soon the orchestra is joined by Dreamtone, the Turkish part of the project. Heavy guitar riffs and the clean, powerful voice of Oganalp Cantan show the musical direction of Neverland. Speed changes and varying melody lines hook you up, even if this song isn't overly catchy, you will remember it after a few spins! A bit slower and with acoustic guitars and orchestration they open To Lose The Sun, but then the song erupts and as soon as the vocals set in you know that this is one of their guests - Hansi Kürsch's unique voice ennobles the song. Later they return to the opening theme, but speed up a bit again and Hansi's vocals are moving, especially as the orchestra adds a dramatic tone here. The following ManKind Is A Lie features Iris Mavraki. Again the music changes a bit and here they wove in some folk elements. Heavy riffs lead into Black Water which is switching between heavy parts and more symphonic ones. Iris and Oganalp are adding parts. This track is probably the most challenging for the listener, coz it is a mix of the different styles at different speeds and has even a part which is a bit jazzy.... But the double lead vocal lines are great, powerful and catchy. On World Beyond These Walls another guest adds some vocals, this time Evergrey mastermind Tom Englund. It's one of my favorite songs on Reversing Time, and I confess partly due to Tom's vocals. But this song is quite enchanting... moving. A bit more progressive and not as heavy, but somehow catchy. The last track of the regular edition is Transcending Miracle and is another powerful, symphonic tune. The symphonic, partly bombastic sound of some songs might remind you of Rhapsody, but I think Neverland have more to offer. A larger variety of sounds, they cross borders and surprise the listener more then once. Beside the two singers the Turkish-Greek cooperation got support by singer Mike Baker and keyboarder / pianist Gary Wehrkamp of Shadow Gallery. But I have no idea who was responsible for the saxophone part in Transcending Miracle.
Some will argue that the band didn't know where to head, coz this isn't a prog rock epos á la Ayreon neither it is a power metal opera. That they fall between two stools, but I think the symphonic, proggish power metal is great, coz it crosses boarders and blurs the difference between the genres. Someone who is just in to prog might discover the heavier side and some power metal fan might realize that prog isn't that bad at all. Beside the 10-track edition there is a limited European edition with a bonus track Once Again This Life and a video interview while the Japanese edition is featuring a different bonus track - Who Asked You To Fight.
Check out: To Lose The Sun, Reversing Time, Black Water and World Beyond These Walls.


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


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