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REVERSING TIMEIRIS MAVRAKI’S & DREAMTONES NEVERLANDAFM Records CDNeverland is actually a classic product of present tendencies inside metal world, and even more, it’s becoming more than a trend within bands because now many of them try to enrich their music with full orchestration. Just remember Avantasia and their new album, and also their previous two releases, and the labelling of their music as “Opera Metal” and you will get a clear picture of what is going on at the moment. “Reversing Time” has a structure of mentioned colossal Metal Opera works, and I think that it’s needless to say that few already established and popular singers were involved in this musical project. On “Reversing Time“ you can hear voices from Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Tom Englund (Evergrey), as well from Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery). They have enriched with their vocals this debut full-length. In the recording process of orchestration Istanbul’s orchestra was involved and their work is more than great! Compliments! “Reversing Time” has 10 tracks, they’re all with this symphonic attitude, but I need to say that most of the songs are written in a ballad manner. Not many fast tracks, maybe only ’’To Lose the Sun’’ where one can hear the voice of Hansi Kursch. The music has this Power Metal Symphonic feeling, but you need to take this label in a little more relaxed way. This track, where Hansi sings, ’’To Lose the Sun’’, is one of better songs of this year, and I might say that this track is even better than most of the songs from the latest Blind Guardian’s release ’’A Twist in the Myth’’. There’s a question about very good composition with many Power and Progressive parts which are supported by fantastic symphonic melodies. ’’To Lose the Lose’’ works amazingly with his vocals and it’s really unnatural that someone outside the Guardians composes better music for his singing than his native band. I would like to name a few additional good titles such as: “Everlasting Tranquillity” (Vocals by Iris Mavraki), “Reversing Time” (Gary Wehrkamp-Shadow Gallery), and a bit faster track “Black Waters“. The music which is written for these so called ballads is really fairytale-like so you might get a sleep (with beautiful dreams). Lyrics are more focused on the doom of mankind, and the final fall, and an everlasting quest for spiritual tranquillity. For this kind of music the idea is quite ok, but it’s a bite stereotypical, like vampirism and blood-drinking in Gothic, or satanic/pagan topics within black. Also, the cover artwork is a great one, done by Jean Pascal Fournier and its one of his greatest works. It remains me somehow on ’’Imaginations From the Other Side“. I can add that this musical project in between Greece and Turkey has made one awesome record, one of the best releases so far in 2008. “Reversing Time” is full of symphonic and melodic variations, and very devoted musicians have taken part in this issue. In shore, for me, Neverland is far better comparing with latest effort from Avantasia. Marko Miranović (8) |
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