After rereading my review of multi-instrumentalist Scott Mosher's second CD, Virtuality, I realize I may have been a bit harsh on the guy. But Mosher still suffers from a bloated sense of self worth. Just peruse the liner notes to his latest CD, Inferno, which describe the album as "something resembling a fortuitously fleeting glance into the mind of a canine-endorsed, distinguished, compassionate, brooding, flippant and non-British gentleman."
Whatever.
Inferno expands upon the synthesis of symphonic rock and ambient soundscapes Mosher established on Virtuality without having to rely so heavily anymore on Ayreon and Rush influences. Quiet keyboard passages segue to riff-tastic ryhthms and the Geddy Lee-meets-Jon Anderson-and-Ace Frehley voice of singer Todd Corsa is used more often, more strategically and with greater discipline on Inferno than on Virtuality. The nine-minute melancholic epic "Exile" stands out as the album's highlight, followed by the synthesizer-propelled rocker "Look Into You." Mosher plays all guitars, keyboards and percussion, with assistance from "bass dawg James." The music tends to get samey after an hour, but at least Mosher tosses in a funked-up, dance-worthy remix of Virtuality's "Season of Fire" at the end to bring Inferno to a blazing finish. As with Mosher's previous discs, beautiful packaging and crisp sonics help lift a mediocre record up a notch.
Track Listing:
1)Descent (1:59)
2) Inferno (3:38)
3) Dark Sun (4:17)
4) Mindfield (4:18)
5) Left Behind (4:37)
6) Exile (8:57)
7) Engines of Industry (5:26)
8) Look Into You (5:43)
9) Ghostland (4:26)
10) The World Fades to Gray (11:08)
11) Season of Fire (Infernal Remix) (6:57)
Total Time: 61:58
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