Shadow Gallery - Legacy

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA 9047-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 71:53:00

Shadow Gallery is still not very well known even though the band had already three impressive releases under their belts (Shadow Gallery, Carved In Stone & Tyranny). Their greatest success yet is on hand with Legacy and I do hope the members of this band will be recognised for their undertakings not just in Shadow Gallery but for their numerous side projects (Mullmuzzler, Leonardo, Explorers Club, Ayreon?).

Once Legacy got launched in my player, I was immediately taken back to the days of Carved In Stone with the opening song "Cliffhanger 2" - the continuation of a story that began on Carved In Stone in 1995. This is followed up by "Destination Unknown," a typical Shadow Gallery song with some melodies reminiscent of Yes. The third track, "Colors" is a great example that harmonised vocals ala Uriah Heep and Nazareth have room in the music of the twenty-first century. "Society Of The Mind" and "Legacy" give the listener a good insight into the heavier, more aggressive world of Shadow Gallery and the last song "First Light" is an epic reaching just over 34 minutes. It contains a whole combination of songs and sounds, which could be of interest for the more serious followers of the band with some comic moments thrown in as a bonus.

For those unfamiliar with Shadow Gallery, this band is one of the finest outfits when it comes to vocal harmonies, no matter the pace of the music. Every song is stamped with breaks and time-changes underlined by odd time signatures without disrupting the flow of the melodies or changing the overall themes of the individual songs. The quite heavy, neoclassic solos, which at times come across as duel style exchanges between the guitars and keyboard, contain some very fast and pronounced bass lines. To top it all, every song has some symphonic touches worked into them, accented with either classical piano playing or some big orchestrations. This band has managed to write music for the music sake and no single members seems to care about standing above or beneath any other player. What more could one ask for?

If the musical description of this album will not make you go out and listen then give it a try for the sounds sake. Gary Wehrkamp produced the album while Carl Cadden-James was in charge for the production of the lead vocals.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Cliffhanger a) Hang On b) The Crusher (13:05) / Destination Unknown (7:01) / Colors (7:02) / Society Of The Mind (5:23) / Legacy (5:04) / First Light (34:18)

Musicians:
Brent Allman - guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals; keyboards (4)
Mike Baker - lead and backing vocals
Carl Cadden-James - bass, vocals, flute
Chris Ingles - keyboards
Joe Nevolo - drums
Gary Wehrkamp - guitars, keyboards, vocals, bass, sound effects

Discography:
Shadow Gallery (1992)
Carved In Stone (1995)
Tyranny (1998)
Room V (2005)
Prime Cuts (2007)
Digital Ghosts (2009)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: January 31st 2005
Reviewer: Peter Fundeis
Score:
Artist website: www.facebook.com/OfficialShadowGallery
Hits: 3874
Language: english