Mind's Eye - Into The Unknown

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Sensory
Catalog Number: SR 3002
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:36:00

Once again Sweden with a nice portion of jazz/fusion, rock, metal and even some southern rhythms which come to us by means of not evident parameters in order to be molded into something original and beautiful. We are talking about Mind's Eye who have delivered a nice piece of craftmanship courtesy of their Into The Unknown album. Guitarist Fredrik Grünberger knows how to combine Vai, Satriani and Holdsworth into his own style of playing. From the first part of "The Other Side Of Me" it becomes obvious that the band will be drawing from a completely different barrel here. Even though singer Johan Persson comes close to becoming James LaBrie's twin brother, to me it's the interaction between rhythm section and guitar which is the absolute highlight. Because this foursome doesn't have a real keyboardplayer some parts do sound a bit "empty." From a technical point of view I'd say this music comes very close to Psychotic Waltz. The band is full of ideas yet a fat sound isn't reached. Just take "Wishes In The Wind," a wonderful song yet in desperate need of real strings mixed in the background. Also "Am I Waiting" deserves better and I'm convinced the band could benefit from an extra keyboard player. If we look at the band from a technical point of view then we have to admit that there's great potential within Mind's Eye. Just listen to the royal dose of fusion in "Light Waves" which has dashes of Holdsworth shine through the wallpaper. Definately another great asset in the world of prog metal!

Tracklisting:
The Other Side Of Me (6:36) / In Chase Of Time (5:54) / Almost There (6:19) / Wishes In The Wind (3:53) / Questions (5:37) / Am I Waiting ? (5:10) / Light Waves (4:08) / Without The Sun (7:19)

Musicians:
Fredrik Gr?nberger - guitar
Daniel Flores - drums, percussion, keyboards
Johan Persson - vocals
Johan Niemann - bass

Discography:
Afterglow (1994) (demo)
Into The Unknown (1998)
Waiting For The Tide (2000/2002)
Record Heaven Sampler (2000) (free with Progression Magazine)
Powermad 2000 Sampler (2000)
Transcending The Mundane Sampler (2000)
Warning: Minds Of Raging Empires - A Tribute To Queensryche (2000)
'Calling (Father To Sun)' (2000)
A Work Of Art (2002)
Walk On H20 (2006)
A Gentleman's Hurricane (2007)
1994: The Afterglow (remastered ed. of first album) (2008)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin SE

Added: September 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.roundrec.com
Hits: 1825
Language: english