Nothing Compares to ELEGY!!!!
Elton Lee | Boston, MA United States | 08/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Elegy is way underrated and unknown to the progressive genre world.. Fans of progressive metal must pick Manifestation Of Fear up. I stumbled upon Ian Parry's vocals from Consortium Project 3 : Terra Incognita. He has a powerful and melodic vocal lines. From there I went on to purchase CP 2 and 1. So I would have the complete set. I was thrilled to own all 3 cds as all 3 are superb progressive metal albums. Then I also did a little bit of historical identification. Ian Parry was from Elegy!!! And I went ahead and purchase 4 albums.. State Of Mind, Principles Of Pain, Manifestation Of Fear and Forbidden Fruit. Elegy is not those kind of Prog Band for anyone to liked the very 1st time they listen to their songs. It is progressive alright with tons of odd times signatures and displacement of rhythm and drum beats. You have to constantly listen again and again so that it shines out. From the first time when you listen to it.. you know these guys are awesome with their instrumentation technique, skills and their song arrangement. You loved it but you just couldn't grasp the structure of the song just yet. It leaves you wanting to listen more and more each time you finished the entire disc. Elegy is a band with sound musicians and musical abilities written all over their songs. I have been listening to all 4 albums tons of times and have yet to grasp every single song because of the odd song structure....It is hard to even play their songs..... My high recommendation is those 4 albums...You need to check thes guys out because you will missed out a whole lot if you don't. Think you know what progressive metal is?? Think again!!! Elegy is another whole level of progressive metal. Challenge yourself and see you could digest ELEGY!!!"
Another brilliant, yet under-appreciated release
electricphase | Mexico City | 02/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Elegy is one of those bands that are criminally overlooked without any logical explanation. Apparently, bands like DT and Symphony X have earned all the commercial success, but their work pales in comparison to the sheer quality, emotion and power as the ones released by bands like Elegy.
Contrary to Elegy's traditional catalogue, Manifestation of Fear is somewhat darker, yet a must have in your power prog collection. The song "Master of Deception" alone is a tremendous masterpiece. Sadly, this is the last album featuring great guitarist Henk Van der Lars, his solo at the end of the CD on Metamorphosis (Silence is Golden) is, by far, one of the most memorable I've ever heard from anyone in any genre. As always, skin basher Dirk Bruinenberg is outstanding behind the drum kit. One of the best bands in the genre.
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Distressed concept
Paul Lawrence | Australia | 06/28/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A concept album of despair and redemption, this comes across as a little cliched and bare. Eleven tracks - 8 of them unhappy/unpleasant/angry in tone, + one instrumental and two uplifting tracks. The balance isn't there. Maybe a longer album would of been better.
The music is good, plenty here for Elegy fans. Henk van der Laars and Ian Parry are both in top form. Production is what you'd expect of an Elegy record.
It's the fact that the subject matter doesn't grab you that lets the team down. Savatage has given us far better concept albums over the years. fans should try to get holdof this album as they will find some worthy moments but newcomers should steer clear of this and direct themselves to State of Mind as a first step into the Elegy catalogue."