InsideOut's power-trio supergroup known as Six By Six are back with their second album, Beyond Shadowland, which again sees Robert Berry (vocals, bass, keys), Ian Crichton (guitar), and Nigel Glockler (drums) delivering their brand of prog-meets-hard rock-meets-AOR music. I missed their debut when it originally came out, so this is the first time I am experiencing the band's music, and I must say, they make for a potent combination together. Berry has been involved in a lot of projects over the years that I've checked out, and I've long been a fan of Crichton's guitar work in Saga, while Glockler has been manning the drum kit for one of my favorite NWOBHM bands for ages, Saxon. Their collaboration is melodic, yet hard-hitting, Crichton getting the chance to crank out perhaps more metallic riffing and blazing solos than with Saga, and he's on fire on tracks such as "Wren", "The Arms of a Word", the monstrous "Can't Live Like This", and the super crunchy "Titans". It's not all Ian shredding though, there's the hook-laden AOR of "Outside Looking In", with a wonderful Berry vocal, the groovy prog-metal of "Spectre" (Nigel is killing it on this one!), and the catchy hard rock of "The Mission", a song with a quirky arrangement and more of those killer licks from Crichton.
Beyond Shadowland is one of those albums that gets better with each listen, and Six By Six is without a doubt a trio that I want to hear more from. Recommended.
Track Listing
1.
Wren 05:05
2.
The Arms Of A Word 05:35
3.
Can't Live Like This 05:09
4.
Obiliex 05:23
5.
Only You Can Decide 02:57
6.
Titans 05:06
7.
Outside Looking In 04:43
8.
Spectre 03:59
9.
Sympathise 04:14
10.
One Step 08:08
11.
The Mission 04:35
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