After 'Colors' in 2017 (see here), 'Lee Abraham', who participates in the 'Galahad' project as a bassist (see my last review here) continues its journey by inviting different artists and 2019 sees the release of his last baby 'Comatose' which tells the story of a victim of a traffic accident who finds himself in a coma and whose we follow the experience while medical teams try to save him. Unlike the last album, the only guest singer is 'Marc Atkinson' who is definitely talked about at the moment (review coming soon of 'Drifting Sun'), this for sure give homogeneity to the whole.
It is with the major progressive piece 'Numb, Pt. 1' that begins the album: a long instrumental introduction very 'Floydienne' sets the scene of the hospital room with the beeps of the apparatus then the title takes flight with different sections alternating tension and relaxation and a first guitar solo to arrive at two-thirds of the title to the sung part interspersed with a very nice guitar solo. The following scrolls much shorter titles with 'Realization', slow and atmospheric and with a beautiful fusion between the acoustic guitar and the vocals of 'Marc Atkinson' and to finish a new guitar solo 'Gilmourien', then, 'Twisted Metal' is based on a sustained rhythm and quite oppressive, then, total change of scenery with 'Ascend the Sky' which is very epic and whose theme of the feeling of ascent at the moment of death is transcended by very beautiful choirs thanks to 'Diane Abraham' and 'Mark Spencer'. With 'The Sun', it's a bucolic semi-acoustic title in which 'Marc Atkinson' makes a very good performance and the melodic lines can make you think of 'Barclay James Harvest', then the second part of 'Numb' takes over the starting theme on the beginning then hardens the tone in the middle of the title with guitar riffs that are more incisive and fast and that join the title 'No Going Back' which continues in this energetic and powerful style. Finally, 'Lee Abraham' lets the listener choose the end of the story with a question mark in the last title 'Awaken?' Which makes it the strongest title emotionally with one last time the beautiful voice of 'Marc Atkinson' and a beautiful Lee guitar solo that accompanies us remarkably to the last note.
In summary, although it is quite far from the previous opus, this new album of 'Lee Abraham' is a total success, undoubtedly the most successful, and 'Comatose' is to add to the ideal disco of all those who love a progressive, inventive, sought after and melodic rock...
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