Review - The Metal Observer: Label-wise released roundabout two months BEFORE the real debut, "Parallel Minds" shows us matured CONCEPTION, the compositions are rounder and more compact, as you can hear in the opening up-tempo-track "Water Confines".
Musically they have stayed true to their sound, slightly progressive Melodic Metal, which mainly lives off Tore Шstby's guitar-wizardry and Khan's brilliant vocals, but both elements are always used for the good of the song, no solo-escapades ruining the flow of the songs or one part growing too dominant. Just as on the debut the production is more than convincing either, each instrument has its clear sound, everything is coming over very powerful.
More classics are "Roll The Fire", more mid-paced, very direct, very intense, great atmosphere, the great ballad "Silent Crying", "The Promiser" with its excellent lyrics and the almost nine-minute "Soliloquy", which covers almost all facets of Melodic/Progressive Metal…
Even though I miss the flamenco-parts of "The Last Sunset", still a great album by a great band, both thumbs up!
Genre: Melodic Metal Format: ape + cue + log Released: 1991 Label: CSF
01. Prevision
02. Building A Force
03. War Of Hate
04. Bowed Down With Sorrow
05. Fairy's Dance
06.Another World
07. Elegy
08. The Last Sunset
09. Live To Survive
10. Among The Gods
Roy S. Khantatat : vocals Tore Ostby : guitar Arve Heimdal : drums Ingar Amlien : bass
Hans Cristian Gjestvang and Staffan William-Olsson : keboards Christine Meyer, Werner Skogli, Freddy Sansonstuen, Geir Wentzel, Tom A.Hansen : harmony vocals
At first released as an indie-album, "The Last Sunset" ler to a contract with Berlin-based label Noise Records - more than deserved, because what CONCEPTION is offering us here is slightly progressive Melodic Metal of the highest level!
Borne by Roy Khan's unique voice and Tore Шstby's filigree, partly flamenco-influenced guitarwork the Norwegians are giving us a ride that you do not find often.
After the calm intro "Prevision" "Building A Force" leaps at you, thundering double-bass, shredding guitars with filigree leads and Khans velvety yet powerful voice, a true tour de force! Try to play the guitar-line of "War Of Hate" - I guess that many hobby-guitarists will break their fingers trying it, and the quality-level in terms of guitar-wizardry is more than amazing (I just say Flamenco), Khan's voice, well, no need to elaborate anymore…
CONCEPTION also are a bit rougher and more experimental than on the following albums, but this also fits very well, as well as they do not orient them on any given standards, but have the courage to use different harmonies, like the ballad "Bowed Down With Sorrow" proves impressively.
But there is still one stroke of extra genius, more then ten minutes long, at the end of the album, titled "Among The Gods". This song might very well be the best thing that CONCEPTION ever has done, thundering guitars meet pure flamenco, very varied arrangement with another brilliant vocal performance by Khan - there can be only one word for it: GENIUS!
A more than remarkable debut for this quartet, having created an absolute genre-highlight that still finds its way into my CD-player fairly often, because the combination of the different styles and sounds is just plainly fascinating... Review - The Metal Observer
Genre: Melodic Metal Heavy Rock Format: FLAC + cue + log Released: 1996 Label: Victor Japan
01. Eye of the Storm
02. Twist of Fate
03. Fool in Love
04. Line of Fire
05. Wake Up Everybody
06.Everythings Gonna Be Allright
07. Common People
08. The Road to Hell
09. Restless in Seattle
10. Highway Cindy
11. Devil's Allegro
12. Ill Be There for You
Brazen Abbot is the brainchild of Bulgarian virtuoso guitarist Nikolo "Nik" Kotzev, who currently resides in Finland. Nik created the Brazen Abbot project after exiting the Swedish band Baltimoore in 1994.
The debut album was initially only going to feature one singer: Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Glory). However, due to contractual obligations, Edman was only available for two of the album's songs. Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple, solo, Trapeze) was slated to record the remaining tracks, but also he was hindered by contractual obligations and could only record three songs for the album. Tomas Vikström (ex-Candlemass, solo) recorded the remaining songs for "Live and Learn", which was released in 1995 to rave reviews. Apart from the aforementioned singers, the album also featured bassist Svante Henryson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Glory), organist Mic Michaeli (Europe) and drummer Ian Haugland (Europe).
The three-singers-concept had turned out to be a successful experiment, so Nik decided to record the follow-up with three singers as well. Edman and Vikström returned for the recordings, and new Brazen Abbot member Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, solo) filled the third vocalist spot. Former Europe member John Levén took over the bass duties as Svante Henryson was unable to record the album due to schedulig conflicts. Haugland and Michaeli completed the backing band for "Eye of the Storm", which was released in 1996.
The same line-up recorded "Bad Religion", which was released in 1997. Continuing the Brazen Abbot tradition of creating high quality rock music, the album also received excellent reviews. Nikolo and Joe Lynn Turner also went on a small acoustic tour in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium together with Jeff Paris and Heartland in November 1997, playing mostly Brazen Abbot songs, and also the occasional Rainbow tune...
After the tour Nikolo started working on the rock opera about the life and times of the famous French prophet Nostradamus. Opting to release the double album under his own name rather than the Brazen Abbot moniker, "Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus" was finally released in 2001. Featuring several Brazen Abbot members including Glenn Hughes, Göran Edman, Joe Lynn Turner, Mic Michaeli, John Levén and Ian Haugland and also Jørn Lande, Doogie White, Alannah Myles and Sass Jordan, the album turned out to be another great success, both critical and commercial, for Nikolo.
After doing extensive promotion for "Nostradamus", Nikolo started writing songs for the new Brazen Abbot album in early 2002. Finally in mid-2003, nearly 6 years since the last Brazen Abbot release, "Guilty as Sin" was released. The "Bad Religion" line-up was nearly complete, except for Thomas Vikström, who had been replaced by singer Jørn Lande (ex-ARK, Masterplan). The very first Brazen Abbot concerts with a full band line-up were performed in Bulgaria the same year. This touring line-up consisted of Nikolo Kotzev - guitars; Joe Lynn Turner - vocals; Wayne Banks - bass; Lars Pollack - keyboards; Thoams Broman - drums. A live CD from these performances and a documentary DVD was released under the name "A Decade of Brazen Abbot" in 2004, Brazen Abbot's ten year anniversary.
Following the release of "Guilty as Sin", John Levén, Ian Haugland and Mic Michaeli rejoined the reformed Europe and were thus unable to appear on future albums. As replacements for the fifth Brazen Abbot studio album, Nik hired Blaze bassist Wayne Banks (who also appeared on "A Decade of..."), drummer Mattias Knutas and organist Nelko Kolarov. Edman, Turner and new recruits Tony Harnell (TNT) and Eric Mårtensson (Eclipse) handled the singing duties. Nik also decided to utilize the same Bulgarian symphony orchestra he had previously used in the Nostradamus rock opera. The result was 2005's "My Resurrection".
