Kenziner - The Prophecies

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Limb Music Products
Catalog Number: LMP 9911-014
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:25:00

Guitar virtuous Jarno Keskinen and his band Kenziner are back with their follow up to the glorious debut CD Timescape from 1998. Timescape was one of the best CDs in the neo-classical metal genre that year and showed that in addition to being an awesome guitarist, the composing talents of Jarno was also worth noticing.

With The Prophecies, Kenziner offer yet another dose of solid neo-classical melodic metal. The songs are fast, powerful, technical and heavy. And the up- front guitars of Keskinen is of course everywhere on this album, very impressive indeed. Filled with classical elements. As on the debut, the vocals are provided by the talented Stephen Frederick, who sounds like a cross between Russell Allen (Symphony X) and Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Impellitteri). His strong vocals are even more raspy and marked this time around. The tasty keyboard work of Mikko Harkin (TunnelVision) is also very good and the dual work with Keskinen's guitars is first class.

The production from David T. Chastain is very good, coming off powerful and crystal clear. The songs follow in good Timescape tradition and although the songs overall might be a bit heavier and more up-tempo, nothing has really changed that much musically speaking. The good melody-lines and choruses are still there, as well as the fantastic virtuous instrumentation. I feel that some of the songs do sound too much like a couple of songs off Timescape, but this should not prevent you from buying the CD, as you will find plenty of good enjoyable songs.

I find this album to be about the same quality as the debut and this is of course a must for all neo-classical metal-and guitar-fans. If you like well produced, virtuous, neo-classical melodic metal with good vocals, you will have to look no further than this.

Released in the US by Leviathan Records, licenced to Metal Blade; in Japan in 2000 by JVC Victor (60954)

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

Tracklisting:
Live Forever (5:28) / The Razor's Edge (4:37) / Through The Fire (6:07) / Trail Of Tears (5:35) / Race With Time (5:34) / Eternity (6:16) / Dimensions (4:42) / Like A Paradise (6:57) / Lost In Fantasy (5:02) / The Prophecies (10:07)

Leviathan edition: Live Forever (5:56) / The Razor's Edge (4:37) / Carry On Tomorrow (5:36) / Race With Time (5:34) / Trail Of Tears (5:35) / Eternity (6:16) / Dimensions (4:42) / Like A Paradise (6:57) / Through The Fire (6:07) / The Prophecies (10:07) ? Total Time: 60:57

Musicians:
Stephen Fredrick - vocals
Jarno Keskinen - guitars, bass, keyboards
Mikko Harkin - keyboards
Brian Harris ? drums

Discography:
Timescape (1998)
The Prophecies (1999)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin FI

Added: December 28th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2301
Language: english