Search - Ice Age :: Great Divide

Top-notch playing AND Songwriting!

Andrew Stein | US | 01/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At last, a "prog" band that harkens back to the days of Kansas, Styx, and Yes, with a good amount of modern heaviness for good measure. Great epic songwriting, provocative lyrics, and technical but tasteful playing from beginning to end. Definitely the best prog-rock-metal release of the year. The sophisticated listener will appreciate the emphasis on songwriting and strucure, as opposed to the all-too-frequent "prog-problem," chops for chops sake. Don't get me wrong - these guys can play, but it's great to hear it as part of coherent songs!"

Great work but less originality

Ibrahim | SF, CALIFORNIA | 02/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"These guys are pretty good. The guitars, keyboards, drums and vocals are working full capacity. If you liked DT's Images and Words and Awake you'll like this CD too, and I have to say, if there were no Dream Theatre and no Shadow Gallery then I would say that this band is awesome. But there is DT and SG, so even there is some originality in some songs, what this band has done was done before. I think the guitarist has some of his own style but the songs in this CD reminds me those Petrucci&KevinMoore guitar+keyboard combinations, you can hear those kind of guitar keyboard work in this CD and they are not bad. Ones who are looking for complex music, strong rhythm and lead guitar accompanied with keyboard, strong drums and a really original vocal should by this CD. But don't be surprised if you hear some DT and SG.My favorite songs: Perpetual Child, Sleepwalker, Bottom Line and One Look Away. I like this CD more as I keep on listening."

The best new prog rock band since Rush!!!

Ibrahim | 08/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! I never thought I'd hear another album that excited me this much! The playing is very good, but that's not the half of it. These guys write SONGS, and great ones, at that. And those vocals! No cheesiness here, folks. this thing is pro all the way. Whoever called this band Dream Theater wannabe's and emotionless (see below) must have been listening to Dali's Dilemma (another recent Magna Carta release)or something because that's CERTAINLY not the case here. With some of the most intelligent lyrics and powerful, heartfelt vocals I've ever heard, there's no doubt in my mind that these guys are destined for greatness!"