After the remarkable 'Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony' in 2019 (see here), at the first listen, we are embarked on a progressive metal with heavy guitar riffs and an impressive richness on the instrumental level and remarkable vocal performances of 'Jeff Scott Soto' but how could it be otherwise with this skewer of artists with curiculum vitae as long as a month of Sundays. So for sure, like any progressive album, it takes a few listenings to get into each composition and "MMXX" is, for my part, in the continuity of "Psychotic Symphony".
From the introduction of 'Goodbye Divinity', it starts strong in an epic and powerful atmosphere then, 'Mike Portnoy' starts a rhythm section of which he has the secret for a fairly direct energetic title with 'Jeff Scott Soto' which is at the top of its form and with magnificent instrumental parts. Without transition, 'Wither to Black' continues in this debauchery of power with an effective hard-rock which can recall the 70's and some titles of 'Deep Purple', then, 'Asphyxiation' drives the point home with a syncopated rhythmic which accompanies us throughout the title. ‘Desolate July’ comes just in time for a quieter time with a beautiful melody that pays a poignant tribute to ‘David Z’, the bass player of Adrenaline Mob’, who died in a bus accident. With 'King of Delusion', one of my favorites of the album, the progressive palette of the group is at its peak with remarkable alternations between powerful parts and others quieter and a melody with contemporary sounds developed in all its progressive forms in the instrumental parts (magnificent piano parts from 'Derek Sherinian'). 'Fail to Ascend' is also remarkable in its very effective melodic construction and which joins at this level the first title 'Goodbye Divinity', then, 'Resurrection Day', meanwhile, is in the same vein as 'Wither to Black'. And it is with the 16 minutes of 'New World Today' that the album ends and which perfectly illustrates the music of 'Sons of Apollo', a progressive metal in several drawers with sought after instrumental sections in which we find influences multiple across the ages of progressive.
In summary, the Americans of 'Sons of Apollo' demonstrate that they are one of the flagship groups of an energetic progressive metal and 'MMXX' is the logical continuation of their first album but, taking into account the exceptional artists , I would have probably preferred more nuances inside the compositions which are mostly quite linear and direct if we except the two titles which I put forward in this album, 'King of Delusion' and of course the final saga 'New World Today'... | |
