I introduced you to the first part of 'The Tales of Belle: Across the Ocean' in early 2022 and Norway's Adventure' didn't take long to release the second part 'Unveiled by Fire' which continues the story of serial killer 'Belle Gunness' and continues to offer us symphonic progressive rock with the same line up. We are once again embarked on this macabre story that we left with the suspicious death of her first husband and his exile to La Porte in the United States. Musically, the melodic lines are still as harmonious and we find magnificent vocal arrangements with the trio of singers, the influences remaining strongly rooted in the 70s with the major formations of this style, such as 'Uriah Heep', 'Kansas', 'Jethro Tull', 'Camel' or 'Renaissance'.
The story takes us to the United States, which sees 'Belle Gunness' pursue its funeral destiny until the fire of its farm: 10 titles to explore all the adventures of this dark story, starting with 'Cruel Mind' in which we find the beautiful warm and deep vocals of 'Kjell Myran' in a first catchy melody, then, 'I Finally Knew' follows suit on a new composition which begins on a rhythmic mid-tempo and which smells good the 70s with very original rhythmic breaks in the middle of the title. With 'Belle's Lament the Heat', we are greeted by the melodious singing of 'Elen Cath Hopen Furunes' accompanied by a cello and this composition then turns into a slow rhythmic procession with haunting melodic lines, the vocal harmonies reminding me of the English of 'Renaissance', then, 'Absurd Scene' is a very beautiful ballad with a magnificent very calm guitar section in the middle of the title, the vocal harmonies being still magnificent. Follows the short instrumental 'Inside Her Mind' which unrolls melancholic melodic lines, then, 'Golden Ore' puts a little spice with a more energetic title which could be the meeting between 'Uriah Heep' and 'Jethro Tull'. We continue our journey in the seventies with 'No Regrets' which takes us into an epic and theatrical atmosphere highlighted by the very expressive singing of 'Kjell Myran', then, 'La Porte Mort' takes us into a catchy melody highlighting automatically starts the toe-tapping machine with again, this beautiful mixed vocal duet. The end of the album offers us two beautiful compositions with, first, 'In Court' which, against a background of narration and a marked rhythm, displays a theatrical atmosphere thanks to the expressive singing, this time, of the male duo and 'Confession' closes the story in a beautiful way on an energetic title à la 'Uriah Heep' with Hammond organ sounds characteristic of the 70s.
In summary, this second part of the story of 'Belle Gunness' still shows all the talent of the Norwegians of Adventure' who continue the adventure (it was easy!) by offering us good progressive rock that the 'we take a real pleasure in listening and which brings us back, for a moment, to the atmosphere of the major formations of this style of the 70s... | |
