Explorer's Club - Age of Impact
	Released: 1998 Label: Magna Carta Cat. No.: MA-9021-2 Total Time: 53:29
	Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, April 1999 It goes without saying that the playing on this album is excellent - solos abound, plenty of opportunities for the instrumentalists to shine. Because this is Trent Gardner's baby, so to speak, his indelible lyrical, structural, and vocal style are very much in evidence. You can't help thinking of his own band Magellan, no more evident than in the first track. Gardner's style has been refined since Magellan debuted with Hour of Restoration. Explorer's Club is more than just a Trent Gardner side project - in a way, this is a "supergroup" effort, a supergroup that features Bret Douglas, Matt Bradley, James LeBrie, D.C. Cooper , Terry Bozzio, Billy Sheehan, John Petrucci, Steve Howe, James Murphy, Frederick Clarke, Derek Sherinan, Matt Guillory, Michael Bemesderfer and Wayne Gardner. It's the instrumental sections and solos that take flight here; Petrucci's playing shows far more verve and energy than Dream Theater's last studio release (equal to, perhaps, his Liquid Tension Experiment workouts). Steve Howe plays a beautiful acoustic solo during the interlude of "Impact 4-Time Enough." Lyrically this is an overwhelming pessimistic album - one last shred of optimism remains in a defiant stand that keeps asserting itself, even at the end. Of course, that shred gets the last word, so maybe it's not so pessimistic after all. It is, however, overlong. It's an idea stretched out for more than fifty minutes. Short by today's CD-length standards, but seems more like an excuse to allow everyone an opportunity to solo? Or take their turn at the mike. There are enough textures to keep it interesting. The Howe solo - which actually is part of an extended multi-artist solo with Gardner, Sheehan, and Bemesderfer all getting their chance - is one the more sedate and lyrical moments on what is mostly bombastic prog-metal. Mind you, I realize it's a hallmark of classic prog to have multi-part suites - variations on a theme, and the like. That is true here to, it's just that there doesn't seem to be any progress, one idea restated in various ways. Overall, I'd recommend Age of Impact, especially if you are a fan of any of these artists. I am, and I want to like it so much more than I do. Perhaps not on constant replay, but certainly not tossed in the discard bin. [You don't even have a discard bin - ED.] More about Age of Impact: Track Listing: Impact 1 - Fate Speaks (16:00) / Impact 2 - Fading Fast (8:45) / Impact 3 - No Returning (8:20) / Impact 4 - Time Enough (9:15) / Impact 5 - Last Call (11:10) Musicians: Terry Bozzio - Drums Billy Sheehan - Bass Trent Gardner - Keyboards, Trombone Wayne Gardner - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Additional Bass Bret Douglas, Matt Bradley, James LaBrie, D.C. Cooper, Trent Gardner - Vocals John Petrucci, James Murphy, Frederick Clarke, Steve Howe - Guitars Derek Sherinian, Matt Guillory - Keyboards Michael Bemesderfer - Flute and Wind Controller Brad Kaiser - Additional Midi Programming Contact: Website: www.magnacarta.net Note: will open new browser window Discography Age of Impact (1998) Raising The Mammoth (2002)
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