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Ivory Tower - Beyond The Stars

Ivory Tower - Beyond The Stars
Released: 2000
Label: Limb Music Products
Cat. No.: LMP 004 018
Total Time: 61:34

Reviewed by: Bjørnar Bevolden, November 2002
This is the second CD by German prog metal band Ivory Tower. They surprised everyone with their critically acclaimed DT influenced self-titled debut CD a few years back, where they gained a lot of fans as well, tripping around Europe with their labelmates Mob Rules.

This CD shows a band in growth. The band seems more mature in their approach and at the same time more confident about their own sound. The DT influence is not as obvious, if not completely gone. Do not be afraid, the sound of Ivory Tower is still there, only better than ever and I think that they with this album will take the step up to the major league. While I found some of the songs on the debut on the verge of being cheesy, this is not the case here. The guitars are heavy and powerful, offering plenty of punchy staccato riffing. The guitars are tastefully supplemented by piano-like and atmospheric keyboards. Cool time-changes, massive grooves and good mid-ranged vocals. This time vocalist Andre Fischer is more close to fellow countryman Andy B. Franck (Ivanhoe, Symphorce) than James LaBrie.

The melody-lines and choruses is melodic as hell and are easily accessible, yet extremely catchy. Although they do have their own sound, they have adapted the best of bands like Conception, Ivanhoe, Dreamscape and Atmosphere.

The production is powerful and crystal clear, with all instruments present. Fans of catchy melodic semi-prog metal will love this CD. Ivory Tower doesn't bring anything new into the scene, but what they do, they do convincingly well. Everything about this CD is much better than the first, and a huge step in the right direction for Ivory Tower.

PPO Rating: 8/10

[This review originally appeared at the ProgPower Online review site; see also LarryD's and Steph's reviews -ed.]

More about Beyond The Stars:

Track Listing: Silence (6:52) / Secret In Me (6:04) / Foreboding (11:50) / Game Of Life (3:53) / Peeping Tom (5:02) / Beyond The Stars (7:26) / When Thoughts Are Running Wild (5:54) / Flight Into The Self (6:03) / Treehouse Theme (1:21)

Musicians:
Andre Fischer - vocals, percussion
Sven Boge - guitars, keyboard programming
Stephan Laschetzki - bass
Thorsten Thrunke - drums
Stephan Machon – keyboards

Contact:

Website: www.ivorytower.de
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Victim Of Time (1996) As Ax'n Sex
Ivory Tower (1998)
Beyond The Stars (2000)

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© Copyright 2004 ProgressiveWorld.net/Bjørnar Bevolden

	Ivory Tower - Beyond The Stars
	Released: 2000 Label: Limb Music Products Cat. No.: LMP 004 018 Total Time: 61:34
	Reviewed by: Bjørnar Bevolden, November 2002 This is the second CD by German prog metal band Ivory Tower. They surprised everyone with their critically acclaimed DT influenced self-titled debut CD a few years back, where they gained a lot of fans as well, tripping around Europe with their labelmates Mob Rules. This CD shows a band in growth. The band seems more mature in their approach and at the same time more confident about their own sound. The DT influence is not as obvious, if not completely gone. Do not be afraid, the sound of Ivory Tower is still there, only better than ever and I think that they with this album will take the step up to the major league. While I found some of the songs on the debut on the verge of being cheesy, this is not the case here. The guitars are heavy and powerful, offering plenty of punchy staccato riffing. The guitars are tastefully supplemented by piano-like and atmospheric keyboards. Cool time-changes, massive grooves and good mid-ranged vocals. This time vocalist Andre Fischer is more close to fellow countryman Andy B. Franck (Ivanhoe, Symphorce) than James LaBrie. The melody-lines and choruses is melodic as hell and are easily accessible, yet extremely catchy. Although they do have their own sound, they have adapted the best of bands like Conception, Ivanhoe, Dreamscape and Atmosphere. The production is powerful and crystal clear, with all instruments present. Fans of catchy melodic semi-prog metal will love this CD. Ivory Tower doesn't bring anything new into the scene, but what they do, they do convincingly well. Everything about this CD is much better than the first, and a huge step in the right direction for Ivory Tower. PPO Rating: 8/10 [This review originally appeared at the ProgPower Online review site; see also LarryD's and Steph's reviews -ed.] More about Beyond The Stars: Track Listing: Silence (6:52) / Secret In Me (6:04) / Foreboding (11:50) / Game Of Life (3:53) / Peeping Tom (5:02) / Beyond The Stars (7:26) / When Thoughts Are Running Wild (5:54) / Flight Into The Self (6:03) / Treehouse Theme (1:21) Musicians: Andre Fischer - vocals, percussion Sven Boge - guitars, keyboard programming Stephan Laschetzki - bass Thorsten Thrunke - drums Stephan Machon – keyboards Contact: Website: www.ivorytower.de Note: will open new browser window Discography Victim Of Time (1996) As Ax'n Sex Ivory Tower (1998) Beyond The Stars (2000)
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