There are few progressive metal bands that are able to channel the song writing abilities of bands like Rush and Blue Oyster Cult, which is somewhat of the attempt that Tides has put on their latest album, Fly Paper. The progressive metal band took steps to become more song oriented, while retaining the progressive mentality.
The problem with the album is that it lacks consistency. The album has songs like "Sacred & Mundane" where one can almost hear this as a Rush song if Geddy Lee were singing (and Alex Lifeson does indeed add some guitar on it). The album also has a great song with "Crowded Emptiness." It is smooth and pretty; it won't make you throw the horns. With proper promotion it might even find its way onto modern radio.
However, the album has numerous songs that leave one with nothing to go back for. The songs lack emotion, they build to climaxes yet the climax never occurs. Maybe the band intended to just create this tension, but without a release the music is not fulfilling.
With the band offering the best three songs on the album freely on their site, I recommend people to check it out. You'll at least listen to good music, and if you want to support this good music purchase the album. But if you are like me, you'll end up skipping through some tracks to get to the best ones.
Track Listing
1.Hide In My Shadow
2. Sacred & Mundane
3. Back & Forth
4. Landscrape
5. Markers
6. Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds
7. Crowded Emptiness
8. Hide & Seek
9. Passing Notes
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