The latest entry into the progressive metal "rock opera" sweepstakes is this new project from Empty Tremor keyboard player Daniele Liverani. This is to be the first of a three part trilogy that Liverani is creating, and he has assembled a fine cast of vocalists to tell his story of a complex dream he once had. What's also impressive is that Liverani also plays all the guitars and bass on the album-he really is a shredder of the highest degree, and considering how good he is on the keyboards, this project really shows his many talents.
The main character Genius is played by Mark Boals, the former Yngwie Malmsteen and current Ring of Fire powerhouse. Boals has really found his niche these last few years in the prog metal genre, and has been in high demand to star in many similar projects. "Without Me Today" shows the singer in fine form, backed by melodic and symphonic arrangements, while "The Right Place" he engages in a lovely duet with Lana Lane. On the raging "Paradox", Pain of Salvation's Daniel Gildenlow joins the fray, and he and Boals go back and forth in a very similar manner to Ian Gillan and Murray Head from the Jesus Christ Superstar album (an influence perhaps on this project.) What's great is how Liverani found the perfect singer for each section here, and the music of that section usually fits the style of each vocalist's band. Case in point, "The Glory of Our Land" is a more doomy, thrashy piece, complemented by the gruff vocals of Grave Digger's Chris Boltendahl, and "All Your Accts" is a poppy symphonic affair fronted by Mecca's Joe Vana.
Other highlights include the muscular prog of "My Pride", featuring strong vocals from Kansas' Steve Walsh as well as John Wetton, and the return of former Crimson Glory singer Midnight on "Terminate." Kudos to Liverani and drummer Dario Ciccioni for laying down some excellent accompaniment to this "rock opera." The music is always complex and tight, somewhat in the style of Ayreon, Dream Theater, Symphony X or Rhapsody. The lyrics are a real hoot to follow along with, and I'll be looking forward to continuing along with the story on the sequel.
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