After 'In Fine Initium' in 2016 (see here) which allowed me to discover 'Nth Ascension', 2019 sees the release of a new album, 'Stranger Than Fiction' who is the 4th of the English. In the continuity of 'In Fine Initium', we find the neo progressive style that we knew with always the same influences, 'Arena', 'Marillion' or 'Saga'. 'The Opening' opens the opus in an airy atmosphere with a first half where the keyboards of 'Darrel Treece-Birch' (see his album here) occupy all the space and then a second half where the guitar of 'Martin Walker' come on stage and continues in this psychedelic atmosphere. With the next two tracks, the progressive side is less present, with 'True Identity' first, which offers us a rather classic energetic rock and then with 'Fire in the Sky' where we feel influences from 'Marillion'. The neo-progressive aspect returns with 'Reconciled' which with more than 10 minutes has breaks of tempos and intensity and which has a final with a memorable melody where the singing of 'Michael Alan Taylor' is close to that of 'Paul Manzi' from 'Arena' (see their latest album here). The following 3 tracks are the continuation of the 'Clanan' story imagined by 'Darrel Treece-Birch' in the 2014 'Ascension of Kings' and for the occasion, we are entitled to 24 minutes of pure bliss with first, 'The Gathering', which unfolds its slow and powerful melody and which can make think of the atmosphere of 'Sorrow' of the 'Floyds', then 'Journey's End' embarks us in a progressive piece of more than 15 minutes which will certainly fill all lovers of long progressive developments, and finally, the very short and acoustic 'Lament' where 'Martin Walker' shows all his talent as a guitarist. And it is after more than 50 minutes of listening that the centerpiece of the album 'Sound to Light' of nearly 20 minutes is offered to us with once again all the ingredients of a progressive rich and inventive. In short, the English of 'Nth Ascension' confirm with talent that they have their place in the best neo-progressive formations and, 'Stranger Than Fiction' will, without a doubt, be welcomed by all progressive fans who like tame the albums little by little... | |
