Optical Illusion

Time Requiem | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Candlelight
• ASIN: B000GPIPC4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,855 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sin to Sin

2. The Talisman

3. Optical Illusion

4. The Ashen Soul

5. Ocean Wings

6. Creator in Time

7. Miracle Man

8. Sphere of Fantasy

Editorial Reviews

UK Release. Get ready for 'Optical Illusion' - Time Requiems 3rd studio album. Taking only two months to complete, Richard Andersson had G"ran Edmans voice in mind the whole process through. Since Richard has always been interested in film music and the way they build up the special movements, the music could best be described as neo-progressive film-musical metal. Everything was recorded, mixed and even mastered in Richards Lipton studio. Having this total control from beginning to end is the fact that the result is vividly stunning. 'Optical Illusions' will once again prove that Time Requiem is in the elite of bands playing neoclassic influenced metal. Their musicianship is stunning, the songs enticingly progressive, perfectly composed and performed. This is an album for the true neoclassic metal connosseur. Regain Records. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - neoclassical metal with Goran Edman on vocals, March 6, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Optical Illusion (Audio CD)

2006's Optical Illusion is the third album from Swedish neoclassical/power metal band Time Requiem. The band, formed by songwriter/keyboard superfreak Richard Andersson (ex-Majestic, Space Odyssey) has a sound very much influenced by Symphony X and Yngwie Malmsteen.

The big change from Time Requiem's 2004 album The Inner Circle of Reality is that vocalist Apollo Papathanasio is out and former Malmsteen singer Goran Edman is in. Optical Illusion is still very much a bombastic epic neoclassical power metal album with extremely intricate keyboard solos, but Edman's presence definitely changes the dynamic. Edman's voice is much smoother (he does a lot of AOR work) than Papathanasio's, and gives the album a more melodic sensibility.

Optical Illusion is a quality neoclassical/power metal album with some first-rate vocal and instrumental performances. The only thing it's short on, and this is a problem for the genre as a whole, is emotion. As much as I enjoy the music, I don't really connect with it the way I would an Angra or Evergrey album. It's just a much more clinical style of music. It's also nothing you haven't heard before. Andersson and company play this kind of metal well, but they're not blazing any new trails.

If you're a fan of Symphony X and Yngwie Malmsteen, by all means check out Time Requiem. Optical Illusion really isn't anything new, but it's a good example of the band's sound.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Trigonometry of Musicianship ! ! !, December 12, 2011

By 

Winged ! ! ! (Queens, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Optical Illusion (Audio CD)

If you like your music as intricate as it is artistic, with most likely the greatest rip-shredding solos possible (take it from a fellow pro himself - WOW!) then this is just what is needed to satisfy those who want more than the ordinary same old recycled rubbish. It's a down-right travesty that Richard Andersson isn't hailed as the meanest keyboardist of all time - I've never heard anything like it, wish I can do that on guitar - and speaking of which, Magnus Nilsson is no slouch either (nor were any ever, affiliated with Andersson, hence Majestic) but seriously, Magnus has got to be the most underrated guitarist of all time.
This stuff is far better than Majestic, but also as Majestic, Some songs are better than others, though the best are far better, and the worst are also far better (nothing beats evolving). This album they even tried a different singer, making it the most original sounding project yet, where -dare I say- the title track is even reminiscent of early Styx. This is their third (and last) album, and it's hard to say which is best. They are all great examples of exceptional musicianship and what just plain hard work can accomplish, it's no wonder such bands are so rare. If you love Symphony X, Rhapsody, and Blind Guardian than you should understand that this is what real Progressive Metal should be. There's a reason there's only a handful of them, hence why they are forced into sharing a common genre with lesser artists; and why the populace doesn't get it. But such was always the lot of the true artist-to atlast achieve their Magnum Opus and no-one understands. But that is also the best testament to their accomplishment, and sincerity. They play from the heart, a music to dumfound the classical masters though they are long gone and only laymen remain. Those who squabble for entertainment and are ignorant of Mozart's proclamation: "that music is a higher philosophy and science than any..."

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing CD, August 29, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Optical Illusion (Audio CD)

Ig you like this. please listen to Brazen Abbot.
Its the same singer, Göran Edman, together with Joey-Lynn Turner and Glenn Hughes.
All their albums are JUST GREAT!