For this new album 'A Gentleman's Legacy', 'Daniel Flores' continues his progressive adventure of 'Mind's Eye' whose last album 'A Gentleman's Hurricane' dates back to 2007 and, compared to the last album 'Brave Tin World' of 'The Murder Of My Sweet' dating back to 2019, his compere 'Mike Palace', who shares quite a few projects with the Chilean (the latest of which is that of the singer of 'The Murder Of My Sweet', 'Angelica Rylin'), comes to replace the guitarist 'Christopher Vetter'. The album 'A Gentleman's Hurricane' told the story of a former CIA agent 'Adam Evangelista' turned rogue who had found his long lost daughter, and 'A Gentleman's Legacy' finds 'Angelica' as an adult trying to avenge her father from the people who led her astray from her settled life.
From 'Six Feet Under', the progressive aspect is put forward with a succession of sound effects bringing us back to American history with for example an extract of an interview with 'Ronald Reagan' on a background of Amazing Grace' and the story begins with the passing of the torch between 'Adam', who is presumed dead, and his daughter 'Angelica' who is entrusted with the mission to rehabilitate him. Despite the rather dark theme, the following compositions take us on a rocking ride with, first of all, 'A Ghost Of A Chance' (see video above) which offers us a memorable first melody, then, 'Damnation' continues in this way putting forward accessible rock, as if 'Daniel Flores' didn't want to cut himself off from his fans of 'The Murder Of My Sweet', the progressive side of his former project being reduced to its simplest expression. We find this atmosphere again with 'Wheels of Time', still very direct and efficient with a classic verse/chorus construction, then, 'Winged', brings a nice variety to the whole in a symphonic atmosphere which is quieter at the beginning but which becomes more lively at the end on a rhythmic level. We continue our melodic journey with 'Kill Your Darlings' (see the video here) and 'Father's Eyes' in the same atmosphere as the first tracks, then, make way for the ballad break 'Rise Above' which is filled with a beautiful emotion, thanks to the beautiful vocal performance of Angelica Rylin'. The melodic rock takes over with 'Trick the Devil' and 'Heads or Tails' and their choruses that don't leave you, and then it's time for the very beautiful melancholic ballad 'Please, Don't Wait Up' with an original rhythmic acceleration in the second part. And it's with 'Finding Closure' that the album ends, a composition that approaches 10 minutes and that offers us new and very pleasant melodic lines and a progressive construction leaving a good place to instrumental sections.
In summary, it is clear that 'Daniel Flores' has somewhat evolved the style of 'The Murder Of My Sweet' by integrating some progressive aspects to be in line with his former project, but on the other hand, 'A Gentleman's Legacy' keeps an accessibility thanks to catchy melodic lines so that the fans of 'TMOMS' will not be disoriented and will find their account there... | |
