Giving prog metal a bad name
Artiste: Dali's Dilemma
Nationality: American
Album: Manifesto for futurism
Year: 1999
Label: Magna Carta
Genre: Progressive Metal
Tracks:
Within a stare
Miracles in yesteryear
Despite the waves
Whispers
Ashen days
Andromeda sunrise
This time around
Hills of memory
Can't you see
Living in fear
Chronological position: Debut album
Familiarity: Zero
Interesting factoid: Well, not so much interesting as sad: this was their only album and soon afterwards they split up.
Initial impression: Synthesiser opening?
Best track(s): Despite the waves, Whispers, Andromeda sunrise, Hills of memory
Worst track(s): Within a stare, Ashen days, Can't you see
Comments: Another album I've had on my disk for what seems, and may be, years; I think it's maybe about time I gave this one a listen. Opening on a synthesiser riff that would be more suited to Vangelis or Jean-Michel Jarre, it quickly breaks into a hard metal-influenced track as the opener gets going, and I'm put in mind of bands like Shadow Gallery and Threshold. There's barely a pause and we're into the second track, showcasing the vocalist, Matthew Bradley's strong range and power. Great guitar work too from Patrick Reyes, while his brother and co-founder Steve complements him perfectly on the bass.
To be honest though, it seems to be straying into Dream Theater “solo-because-you-can-not-because-the-song-needs-it” territory, with some fairly unnecessary exhibitionism, but at least these guys can play.
Despite the waves has a heavy keyboard slant, almost a nod back to Genesis's
Watcher of the skies right at the end, then everything slows down for a lovely short instrumental in
Whispers, proving this band could take it easy when required , and it's a tribute to the keyboard and piano skills of Matt Guillory, which essentially drive this piece.
Mind you, Patrick Reyes gets to have his day in the sun too, with another short little instrumental, though more folky this time. Nice, but I preferred the other one. Standout so far is the quite commercial
Hills of memory, with some lovely guitar and some very memorable hooks, almost acoustic at times. Kind of reminds me of Big Big Train in places. Generally though, I can see why these guys didn't last. They're good, but not really very good except in very sporadic bursts. And you need to be better than just good to survive in this business.
Overall impression: Not quite meh, but to be honest, not a million miles away...
Intention: Nothing I can do, as they're split up now. Doubt I would have gone further anyway.