Anthropia - The Ereyn Chronicles - Part 1: The Journey Of Beginnings


Year of Release: 2006
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MAX-9087-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 68:18:00

Hailing from the south of France where sun, sea and love are your daily menu, Hugues Lefebvre (whom we're going to call Hugo for the rest of the review) does however produce evil and dark sounds chased by speedy metal licks and bombastic orchestral settings. Recorded in Monaco, Hugo's first offering under the banner of Anthropia already puts him in the same league as one of his prime examples, Ayreon. Main difference from the tall Dutchman, however, is the fact that Hugo tries to do everything himself without the help of an army of guest musicians.

Being raised on the music of Nirvana and The Offspring, classically trained Hugo has only recently started to enjoy the music of Genesis and Yes, thus steering his complex musical ideas towards a prog metal direction. Another not so evident fact is that Anthropia's debut has been released on the world famous Magna Carta label.

Based on the writings of Quentin Borderie, the Ereyn Chronicles is planned to be a trilogy, which is quite an ambitious project. Hugo wants his music to become visual so the actual storyline kind of comes to life on CD. If your idea of fantasy is that of blacksmith dwarves, mocking sprites, mercenary barbarians, a talking horse, a cunning succubus and seaweed-intolerant dragons then you have come to the right place!

Having studied classical guitar from the age of six till he was eighteen, the combination of classical technique together with his love for Iron Maiden, Symphony X and Dream Theater has put Hugo on the edge of two rather different worlds, two extremes which he masterly combines into the unique quality of Anthropia. Of course such an impressive idea should have the collaboration of a huge symphonic orchestra, but maybe Magna Carta is waiting to grant Hugo an impressive budget for his second or third offering. For the time being Hugo includes Antonio Lauro's "Venezuelan Waltz #3" for classical guitar during the lengthy closing section of this album: "The Desert Of Jewels."

Maybe The Journey Of Beginnings lacks maturity, maybe there is a na?ve element at play. Maybe the hero of the story is Hugo in disguise, eager to grow as a person in parts two and three? Here he can also learn that the italic font used in the booklet is not the ideal way to share the lyrics with its interested audience. However the CD also includes an enhanced video section once you pop the album in your computer. Maybe it's best to watch this video first as it gives a nice insight into the whole project and the main person behind it. You will be happy to know that in the meantime Anthropia has become a five piece rock band ready to perform The Ereyn Chronicles live. A journey worth discovering!


Tracklisting:
Welcome To Ereyn (2:34) / Quastion Of Honour (6:40) / Lords Of A World (6:34) / Through The Sleeping Seaweed (8:18) / Forgotten (8:57) / Lion-Snake (5:29) / Where The Secrets Lie (8:44) / The Walk Among The Ruins (1:10) / In The Maze Of A Nightmare (9:35) / The Desert Of Jewels (10:11)

Musicians:
Hugo - vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
Damien Rainaud - drums

Discography:
The Ereyn Chronicles - Part I: The Journey Of Beginnings (2006)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin FR

Added: April 15th 2007
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.anthropia.org
Hits: 2760
Language: english

  

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