Drifting Sun - 'The Charade'

Year of Release: 1998
Label: self-released
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 12:18:00

Drifting Sun's "The Charade" is a track from their forthcoming second release, On The Rebound. According to keyboardist Pat Sanders, the full album should be released this month.

As much as I like this (and like it, I do) I can't get over the fact at how familiar sounding it is. To wit, Drifting Sun's sound falls somewhere between the prog-metal of Shadow Gallery or Dream Theater (and the like) and the melodic neo-prog of Arena (or most Clive Nolan projects). That their debut was released on Musea's offshoot metal label Brennus should tell you something. Of course, there is an early-Marillion flavor in Sanders' keys here, too, and it's Paul Wrightson (Arena) or Damien Wilson that Chris Martini's vocals recall.

Within that context, "The Charade" shifts among many different textures, keyboard-led for the most part, though guitarist John Spearman gets his chance in the spotlight toward the end of the track - playing progressions that are similar to any Marillion influenced neo-prog band, to say nothing of Steve Rothery himself. [Him again? -ed.]

The opening measures made me think of 80's pop, where Sander's sparkling keys sound more like a xylophone than anything else, though quite how to reconcile that with the 80's, I can't say. Nevertheless, there are mellow-Dream Theater-ish passages here, too, as well driving rock passages, where the drums get to come to the for front.

Outside of any comparisions, what I do like is a strong sense of melodism, the vocal harmonies - which avoid the excesses of Shadow Gallery, by the way, whom I find are just on this side of overwrought - and the overall dynamics of the track.

Drifting Sun, rounded out by Tobin Bryant on drums and Scott Lomas on bass, are good at what they do. There is enough of interest here that I'm looking forward to hearing the whole album.

Drifting Sun should appeal to fans of any of those named above.

Tracklisting:
The Charade (12:18)

Musicians:
Pat Sanders - keyboards
Chris Martini - vocals
Tobin Bryant - drums
Scott Lomas - bass
Jon Spearman - guitars

Discography:
Drifting Sun (1996)
'The Charade' (1998)
On The Rebound (1999)
Trip The Life Fantastic (2015)
Safe Asylum (2016)
Twilight (2017)
Planet Junkie (2019)
Singled Out (comp) (?)
Forsaken Innocence (2021)

Genre: Progressive/Power Metal

Origin UK

Added: January 1st 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.driftingsun.co.uk
Hits: 3031
Language: english