Has it really been 12 years since the last studio album from San Francisco's prog-rock veterans Metaphor? Surprisingly, that is indeed the case, and another example of just how quickly time seems to be flying by lately. Last we left off with this band was 2007's The Sparrow, a fine set of modern prog with a healthy nod to vintage Genesis, and they are back yet again in fine form here with The Pearl, which was recorded in 2018 and released in January of 2019. As we've had a few months with this one, much of this music has had a chance to really sink in, and it's another really good release from the band. Musically, not much has changed over the years, the band continuing to produce some masterful arrangements dripping with majestic keyboards, crisp guitar work, and intricate rhythms, which you can clearly hear on the opening cut "The Open Road". Marc Spooner blends piano with synths on this gem to wonderful results, Malcolm Smith's guitar going from gentle to snarling, and the acrobatic rhythms from bassist Jim Anderson & drummer Greg Miller doing a fine job. Anderson really shines on "Bruises and Blisters", his thick yet melodic bass lines permeating the entire track, swirling around Smith's tasty guitars and Spooner's grandiose keys. John Mabry's vocals will continue to be a 'love it or leave it' thing for some; personally, I think his style fits the music, and though he doesn't have a wide range, he does a good job of telling the lyrical story, and his mid-to-upper range delivery works well on some of the heavier tracks, such as "Lying Down with Dogs".
"The Mist of Forgetting" has elements of Saga as well as late '70s Genesis, with haunting synths floating about the mix as metallic guitars stab in and out of the arrangement, while "The Love Letter", the longest track at just under 10-minutes, is the albums most pastoral, atmospheric track, leathery bass lines & pedals seeping through a haze of synths and Mellotron, with Mabry soaring over the top. "Remembering" has elements of folk to go along with some tasty lead guitar and piano, but the tempo picks up with "Romancing the Wurm", a song with a healthy Yes flavor to it, blistering synths, heavier guitars and those ever present velvety bass grooves from Anderson providing some bombast. After the brief folky number "The Eagle, The Voice, The Light", the band close out the album with the symphonic "Robed in Glory", another atmospheric number complete with haunting keyboards, massive bass lines, and textured guitar work. Again, a strong Yes influence happening on this one.
Though I'll admit to being a huge fan of Metaphor's early 'homage to Genesis' albums, it's great to hear them branching out a bit here and letting some other styles and sounds creep into their music. This is a pretty wonderful collection of modern prog rock songs with a healthy nod to the classics, chock full of great instrumental passages and melodic vocals. Hopefully it's not quite so long till the next time we are graced with new music from the band, but this one was well worth the wait.
Track Listing
1. The Open Road (8:43)
2. Bruises and Blisters (5:52)
3. Lying Down with Dogs (6:15)
4. The Mist of Forgetting (7:03)
5. The Love Letter (9:31)
6. Remembering (7:20)
7. Romancing the Wurm (6:34)
8. The Eagle, The Voice, The Light (3:03)
9. Robed in Glory (7:30)
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