Customer Reviews

When Time Fades

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"When Time Fades..." builds on Suspyre's first two efforts to create another prog metal masterpiece. The very first track, "Possession", channels Dream Theater while adding a diverse instrumentation. The guitars on "Evolutions" offer a crunch that speaks to the tight production (done by Rossetti and Skibinsky, the band's dual lead guitarists); it manages to be both bright and dark at the right times. "Evolutions" is sure to be the most played piece off of this album, and will draw fans of "traditional" metal into the progressive genre.

The brilliant composition (Rossetti) and production continues, perhaps peaking on "Siren", the most complex and rewarding song on the album. "Siren" is an eclectic mix of chorale, rock ballad, jazz fusion, and metal; yet none of it feels out of place. Barton's vocals are as diverse: appropriate and ear-grabbing, and embrace Trisha O'Keefe's inspired guest vocals. The combination offers quite an eerie duet. Perhaps the most exciting piece is "The Light of The Fire" driven by thoughtful bass lines, melodic percussion, and a sense of the epic.

Through the album, the pieces are thematically related, but each song tells an individual story. While there are no wasted tracks, there is less album cohesion than A Great Divide (Suspyre's second album) had; the 'middle half' of the album lacks direction. This is one of the hardest things to overcome for any band that places such emphasis on songwriting, and Suspyre has overcome it in the past. Given the strong opening and strong finish, we can let it go this time as being overambitious. If an album has to choose its weakness, this is a good one to pick, as it can still be very enjoyable from start to finish. Just remember to take a breath between songs.

This album is somewhat political in nature; especially overt in "Let Freedom Ring (The Heart of it All)". Never before have the words "red, white, and blue" been sung like this. The theme of governmental abuse of power is present in many songs. The lyrics flow well, never forcing a meter, always acting as part of the piece. They will not disappoint those who enjoy the epic nature of metal: a speculative fiction fan's fantasy. As both a lyricist and singer, Clay Barton has developed into what should soon be recognized as one of the great voices of progressive metal.

When it comes down to it, this is the type of album that reminds us why we call ourselves metal fans. It offers the heavy crunch, the bright instrumentation, the technical complexity, and of course the perfection of performance that we demand.

When I purchased this CD I'd never hear of Suspyre & they only came to my attention when Amazon did one of those "if you purchased this...you might like this" notes. I listened to a few clips online, was impressed & purchased their CD.

Wow: excellent production, great lyrics, & the musicianship is stunning. These guys are destined to rise as one of the top prog bands on the scene. The music is incredibly complex, with rhythms winding in & out of each other. The addition of brass, symphonic & diverse percussion experimentation (even xylophone) increases the breadth & complexity of the performances. This IS NOT passive listening music; it grabs you, draws you in & requires that you engage it fully. If the CD overwhelms you on 1st listen, do not put it aside. It actually gets better upon repeated listens, as your mind begins to sift through the varying component parts that come together to create the whole.

I'm a definite fan now & will continue to push musical boundaries with Suspyre.

If you like the following bands, you should try these guys:
Pathosray, Symphony X, Serenity, Pyramaze, Kamelot, Anubis Gate, Dream Theater, Circus Maximus, Pineapple Thief.

This is one of the best prog-metal albums of the year. I had no idea who these guys were until I happened to notice the "S" for "Sensory" on the spine. I picked it up and read, "For fans of Dream Theater and Symphony X." Not believing it, I put it in the player at the music shop where I work. Then I bought it, because the first thirty seconds had some serious potential. So when I got it home I popped it in my stereo. That was three days ago. It has hardly left the player since.

The music is amazing, the arrangements constantly evolving yet never seeming forced. The instrumentation is flawless, and much more varied than the average tech- or prog-metal disc. Particularly notable are the horns, which miraculously do not break the flow of the music an ounce. They add a lush, occasional texture that to me somehow perfectly evokes the vital, lush, feathery and yet fiery blood-red of the album's cover art. Wow. Never heard that done before. I love it when I get to say that.

So, put simply, if you like Symphony X and Dream Theater, buy this disc. It is more SX than DT, but it is definitely both. I'm going to be ordering their back catalog soon. This is a missing masterpiece for the year 2008. I hope more people will find it. Personally, I'll trust that "S" a little quicker next time. You'd think I would've learned that after Redemption's "Fullness of Time."

The last review made me want to buy this album and he did a fantastic job of describing it so I'll say little here. This is the BEST Prog-Metal album that I have EVER heard period. I'm not a real big fan of this genre because in a nut shell they all sound the same. Yes I get it you can sing high and you can play your instrument...but can you entertain me. That was always my question for them. This album delivers that is spades. The singer sings lines that might leave you saying I was not expecting him to go in that direction. And some vocal tracks where he sings are down right weird but I love it that way. Also he does not sound like your average,run of the mill Prog singer either. He's a good singer but he's no Jeff Tate and I like it that way. He is his own style. You will be able to pick out his voice if heard from afar. Not like some of the others. The music is on another level. It's quite awesome simply put. Off timing riffs are a constant on this album. This is NOT your traditional Prog-metal band. That might not sit well with others but for me that's what makes this so awesome. Break the mold once in awhile prog bands. This is a creative Masterpiece. Metal fans get this. If you love technical metal then this is a jewel of an album. I love everything about this album. On high rotation for sure. I hope to hear one day a prog metal album with the creativity of this band and the creativity of Maynard from Tool with his voice also. Maynards vocal compositions are awesome. This is close enough though.

Update: I've listened to tons of prog metal since this review and this album is STILL the best I've ever heard.

It's weird to feel nostalgic for a time that is not long past, but there are times when the turn of the century (1998-2002 to be precise) really seems like the golden age of progressive metal. Dream Theater had come back in a big way with Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory, the ProgPower USA festival was just getting off the ground, and it seemed like every new album that came out became an instant favorite. It was just a fantastic time to be a prog metal fan. Then, inevitably, came the second wave of bands that were inspired by Vanden Plas, Evergrey, Pain of Salvation, and Symphony X but were nowhere near as talented or visionary. Now prog metal bands are a dime a dozen, and none seem to satisfy like the "old guard".

Enter Suspyre and their latest offering When Time Fades, their first for Sensory Records. As soon as this album starts playing I feel like it's 2000 all over again. Suspyre seamlessly blends the power and majesty of Twilight in Olympus/V: The New Mythology Suite-era Symphony X with the intellect and virtuosity of Pain of Salvation (prior to their recent detour into weirdsville) and the overall spirit of those early Dream Theater albums. A big part of Suspyre's classic sound is vocalist Clay Barton, whose voice is the prefect medium between Russell Allen and Daniel Gildenlow. He's got great range, and adds a tremendous amount of drama and power to the complex songs on this album. The rest of the band, particularly guitarist Gregg Rossetti, is just as impressive. Not just a metal band with keys, Suspyre certainly earns their "progressive" label (see the 10+ minute "Siren" and "Let Freedom Ring"). There is an incredible display of instrumental prowess on When Time Fades, and even at its "proggiest" the musicianship never feels like a self-indulgent. The instrumentals seem like key components of the songs and the overall album, which is no mean feat in this genre. The occasional saxophone part, harsh vocals, and female vocals (courtesy of Amaran's Plight's Trisha O'Keefe) only add to the album's appeal.

It bears repeating that When Time Fades absolutely works as a whole album, not just a collection of songs or a collection of performances. The songwriting is first rate; pairing each impressive instrumental display with equally impressive and compelling lyrical content (these lyrics definitely warrant further study). The whole thing really gels, and has this cohesive spirit that reminds me of the very best conceptual work from Evergrey and Pain of Salvation.

Oh, and it rocks like the proverbial hurricane. Sometimes these kinds of albums tend to focus on the prog and overlook the metal, but that is so not the case here. When Time Fades is a heavy monster of a metal album that will get your brain working and your head banging.

Needless to say, When Time Fades is a must have for all progressive metal fans, particularly those (like me) who have become jaded in recent years with the sheer volume of new bands. Fans of Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Pain of Salvation in particular should be utterly amazed by this one.

I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time on this review because the quality of music on this album really can be conveyed with words. Suffice to say if you like prog-metal and you like groups that push the boundaries of the genre they occupy, then this album is very, very good. This is a creative, energetic strong effort from a a group that already gave us a great concept album like "A Great Divide". If you are a fan of Dream Theater, Symphony X or just creative prog-metal in general, this album is absolutely for you.

I've grown up with progressive & metal since their inception with the pre-ELP,Yes & Rush bands such as King Crimson, The Nice, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Zappa, Eno, the influential Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, It's a Beautiful Day. So I speak with much experience. I will have to say that I was inspired by the glowing reviews to try Suspyre, and it wasn't exactly what I expected. They are incomparable to a band such as Dream Theater, with their exceptional musicianship. Suspyre is probably more comparable to bands such as Symphony X (SX) or the Kai Hansen/influenced bands such as Gamma Ray & some even reminded me of Angra. The vocals are Dio-esque, but lack the dynamism, of say, SX's Russell Allen. The dual guitars are competent, but never a match for the skill or, say Iron Maiden or any of the Kai Hansen bands, or individually a John Petrucci or Michael Romeo. There is no significant keyboard component, although MIDI programming is responsible for creating the synthesized symphonic foundation of Suspyre's signature sound. Personally, the pure artificial timbre of a synthetic symphony often becomes sterile with prolonged usage.

Now that I've lambasted the CD's, I need to say that they are quite listenable, the basic composition is good. The engineering and production are also quite good.I would recommend Suspyre to my friends. I just don't think they meet the hype of the other recommendations, and they are not yet comparable to the best progressive metal bands. Perhaps some day they will be.