Part two of Frank Bornemann's grand opus on the life of Joan of Arc is here from the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and the rest of legendary German prog act Eloy, titled The Vision, The Sword and the Pyre (Part II). Long known as a band who were adept at creating grand, conceptual works, Eloy here under the steady guidance of their leader, have created a second chapter in the Joan of Arc history that not only is featured here in album form but also translated into French and scheduled to be performed live on stage as a theatrical, spectacle musical.
Though Eloy's music today has softened a bit and isn't as heavily steeped in classic space rock, prog, hard rock, and psychedelia as it was forty years ago, there's still plenty of spacey, symphonic rock to be found here on the second part of this grand opus. Tracks like "Armistice of War", "An Instant of Relief...still the war rage...", "Paris", and "Rouen" contain plenty of those Eloy trademarks we've come to love over the years, such as sumptuous synths, organ, and piano, tasty guitar riffs & solos, haunting female backing vocals, and Bornemann's unusual yet highly recognizable vocal style. Many of the arrangements are bright and airy, perhaps lacking the denseness of the early Eloy catalog, but it works just fine with the concept, and in a few spots here the darker tone fits like a glove. "Patay" is one of the albums more proggy numbers, stabbing synths and searing guitar play off bubbling rhythms and majestic piano, vintage Eloy colliding with images of Pink Floyd and Alan Parson Project for one of the true highlights here.
Overall, fans of Eloy will be thrilled at this latest conceptual piece, as it's expertly produced, written, and performed. Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes and Oceans it might not be, but as a new musical statement from a vintage band here in 2019, it's pretty damn good.
Track Listing
01 - An Instant of Relief... still the war rage... 6:26
02 - Between Hope Doubts Fear and Uncertainty 2:13
03 - Patay 5:25
04 - Joy 3:45
05 - Reims... the coronation of Charles VII 2:31
06 - Résumé 2:46
07 - Armistice or War 4:28
08 - Paris 3:50
09 - Abandoned 4:43
10 - Compiègne 5:12
11 - Tormenting Imprisonment 2:33
12 - Rouen 4:59
13 - Eternity 3:42
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