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These guys just keep getting better. With their previous
CD "The Fullness Of Time" they displayed their power and creativity
as a band to be paid attention to. With "The Origins of Ruin"
they have now solidified that as a band, still with frontman
and vocalist Ray Alder of Fates Warning (one of my favorite
bands of prog metal). Ray's voice has never sounded better
and this is an excellent vehicle for displaying what he can
do, and he has picked a talented band that performs with excellent
chops, style and depth. Guitarist Bernie Versailles is amazing,
as is the drummer Chis Quirarie, along with the rest of the
band they perform with a definate thunder! I also find their
lyrics very strong and meaningful. It's a CD about pain inflicted
in life by lies and deceit that are the origins of ruin, although
it briefly offers a glimmer of hope towards the end.***
The CD starts off with "The Suffocating Silence" an intense
tune about emptiness and loneliness. Excellent!***
Next is "Bleed Me Dry" a song of great instrumental acrobatics
with a passionate vocal by Ray. He sings "Twist the blade
inside of me and bleed me dry, cause there's nothing you can
say to me to make things how they used to be again".***
My favorite track is the third one, "The Death Of Faith
And Reason". An awesome, great, fantastic tune! You can hear
the thunder! The lyrics say it all. These are some of the
best lyrics to any song of recent times. It takes some time
to grow on you but once you absorb it you'll find it compares
with many of the best prog tunes.***
"Memory" continues on as all that we are left with. Another
great tune.***
Then comes the title track "The Origins Of Ruin", a softer
moment that tells of a man's despair with "nothing left to
build upon" and the fear that "none of this was worth it".
These are all "signposts marking the origins of ruin". Another
excellent showcase for Ray's vocals, but I would have prefered
the song to be a little bit longer than it is, because just
as the song starts to build at the end it is over. It would
have been nice if they would have continued out with the atmosphere
just a little longer. But still a great song.***
As the CD continues the remaining songs are strong and
bring home the point that is dramatically turned around briefly
at the end.***
A well-performed, and well-written work by a great band.
I look forward to seeing them perform live and also to hearing
more great CDs by them. I will be listening!***
Russ Bellinger May 07
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