Therion - A'Arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming 1997

Genre: Modern Classical, Symphonic Metal, Heavy Metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 1997
Label: Nuclear Blast

Sound: This is probably the best album to introduce new listeners to Therion. This is a very well orchestrated and guitar oriented album that dips even towards classical music. The choirs and duos in this album are also very intriguing to hear. This is also the second post pure death metal album showing the shift from former death metal to progressive/gothic metal.

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are first of all Written by Thomas Karlsson the leader of the occult group "Dragon Rouge". These Lyrics always tell the Beliefs and ideals. The choirs and singer both chime in finely and sound good with the music. The female and male duets are also a good listen with shifts. The solo soprano singers just like on Lepaca Kliffoth though on this album the singers are greatly impressive. The lyrics if dissected by what is being said can be moving or at least challenge how one thinks.

Impression: I like this album the most of any Therion I have heard. If you like bands like Nightwish and also Kamelot this is somewhere in between in sounds. I really like the Symphony of the Dead Instrumental and The Quiet Desert are great tracks. I sometimes wish this was a little less symphonic and more metal oriented yet it is a true Masterpiece nonetheless. If This was Stolen I would be happy the person had the taste to find this and be angry I would have to wait to get this shipped but would certainly buy this again. I personally think this is also the best way to listen to Therion for the first time as appose to Deggial which takes a bit of an open mind and a taste for classical music. ~ Reviewed by: tbarrettl

1. In Remembrance

2.Bl

ack Fairy (European Metal Version)

3. Fly To The Rainbow

(Scorpions cover)

4. Children Of The Damned

(Iron Maiden cover)

5. Under Jolly Roger

(Running Wild cover)

6. Symphony Of The Dead

(new instrumental version)

7. Here Comes The Tears

(Judas Priest cover)

Therion Versions

8. Enter Transcendental Sleep

9. The Quiet Desert

10. Down The Qliphotic Tunnel

11. Up To Netzach / Floating Back

Original Soundtrack "The Golden Embrace"

12. The Fall Into Eclipse

13. Enter Transcendental Sleep

14. The Gates To A'Arab Zaraq Are Open

15. The Quiet Desert

16. Down The Qliphotic Tunnel

17. Up To Netzach

18. Floating Back

Christofer Johnsson: Guitar, Hammond organ, Keyboards, Gran Piano

Piotr Wawrzeniuk: Drums, Vocals

Jonas Mellberg: Guitar, Keyboard

Lars Rosenberg: Bass

Dan Swanö: Vocals

Tobbe Sidegård: Vocals

Peter Tägtgren: Additional lead guitars

Gottfried Koch: Acoustic guitar, Grand Piano

All choir and solo opera singing on this album were done by

Bettina Stumm: Soprano

Raphaela Mayhaus: Soprano

Marie-Therese Kubel: Alto

Ergin Onat: Tenor

Klaus Bülow: Bass

Joachim Gebhardt: Bass

CD in a 4-page foldout Digipak with additional booklet containing liner notes.

Tracks 1-3 recorded during the "Theli" session at Impuls Music Studio, Germany, Jan-March 1996.

Tracks 4-5 recorded in a session at Abyss Studio, Sweden, June 1996.

Tracks 6-7 recorded at Impuls Music Studios, Germany, Dec. 1996. Track 6 was originally released onthe "Beyond Sanctorum" album in 1992. At first, it was also planned to rerecorded "Dawn OfPerishness" from the "Symphony Masses" album, but as the result wasn't suitable, Christofer Johnssondecided to go for a Judas Priest cover instead.

Tracks 8-11 recorded in a session at Impuls Music Studios, Germany, Dec. 1996. The tracks are socalled "Therionized" versions of the songs from the soundtrack.

Tracks 12-18 taken from the original soundtrack to "The Golden Embrace" Art Movie (1997) by PerAlbinsson.

Track 3 originally performed by Scorpions (1974).

Track 4 originally performed by Iron Maiden (1982).

Track 5 originally performed by Running Wild (1987).

Track 7 originally performed by Judas Priest (1976).

Neil Zaza - When Gravity Fails 2006

Genre: Instrumental Rock
Format: ape + cue + log
Released: 2006
Label: Melodik Records

1) Something Anything

2) Purple Plush

3) Cinematic

4) In My Dreams

5) Bleed

6) Celestine

7) Danza Della Notte

8) Heavyocity

9) My Only Son

10) My Dearest

11) Ultra

12) The Awakening

13) Before the Throne

Neil Zaza (Lead, Rhythm, Baritone & Bass Guitars, Synth)

Michael Anthony (Bass)

Timothy M. Bradford (Keyboards)

Bill Cioce (Drums)

Peter Frampton (Guitar)

Doug Johns (Bass)

Scotty Kormos (Drums)

Mark Leach (Hammond B-3 Organ)

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Keyboards)

Bobby Rock (Drums)

Jordan Rudess (Keyboards)

Steve Smith (Drums, Percussion)

T.M. Stevens (Funky Bass)

David Strieter (Keyboards)

Garry "GMan" Sullivan (Drums)

Anyone that is familiar with Zaza’s work will know that his work is a near perfect marriage of

melody and flash and "When Gravity Fails" is perhaps his ultimate exercise yet in this art form.

"When Gravity Fails” is a superb instrumental album. I defy anyone to listen to this album and not be blown away. Zaza really has come up with an ace with this record, and whilst "Melodica" was a very good album, ‘”When Gravity Fails” can be considered to this point Zaza’s magnum opus. Stylistically it has all the right ingredients, yet there is an element of passion here that is

often missing from instrumental works even from the perceived big name instrumental market leaders. On the basis of this album (not to mention Zaza’s back catalogue), Neil Zaza deserves to be at the very top of the guitar elite. ESSENTIAL. - Virtuosityone.com

Now comes When Gravity Fails, the Ohio native's eighth CD loaded with 13 melodic hard-rock gems, jaw-dropping solos and an even more impressive guest list than Staring at the Sun that would make better-known players squeal. Unlike other instrumental guitarists, Zaza is smart enough to retain control of his playing. Sure, When Gravity Fails lifts off with lots of soaring, high-pitched arena-rock soloing (part of what makes the record so refreshing and endearing), but nary a single note sounds out of place. Nor does Zaza ignore his fellow musicians. In fact, “Cinematic” emerges as one of the album's prettiest and best songs precisely because Zaza allows Rudess a mesmerizing piano solo in the middle, accented by Frampton's classic-rock fretwork. The man's example is one that many younger players - and even some older ones - should heed. We need more musicians like Neil Zaza. - Sea Of Tranquility ~

California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto - CG3+2 (2002)

Genre: Progressive Rock
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 2002
Label: Inside Out Music

Allmusic Review: Review by Franзois Couture Since 1998, the California Guitar Trio has regularly toured with expanded versions of the band. The fan favorite is no doubt the quintet form with King Crimson members Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto. A live album, Live at the Key Club, was made available in 2001 through the CGT Direct Collectors' Series. CG3+2 takes the quintet in the studio to record their repertoire. The track list includes a couple new CGT compositions, jams and studio constructions credited to the whole group, a few more of those incredible covers the band is known for, and a few old favorites revisited. Granted, "Melrose Avenue," "Blockhead," and "Train to Lamy," all dating back to the trio's first two albums (Yamanashi Blues in 1994; Invitation in 1995), suffer a bit from overexposure, but having a rhythm section to back them up is a whole new thing — "Melrose Avenue" turns into a splendidly driving album opener. The group compositions, in which engineer Bill Munyon also had a word, are not as satisfying as the trio's own songs. Somewhat looser, they don't pack as much energy or beauty as "Skyline" and "Eve," the two new pieces co-written by the team of Bert Lams, Paul Richards, and Hideyo Moriya. The highlights are provided by the covers: Yes' "Heart of the Sunrise," the Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Dance of Maya" (did someone mention virtuosity?), and two delightful Japanese traditional tunes rearranged by Moriya — "Zundoko-Bushi" even includes bits of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" and "Vrooom." CG3+2 is only half new to the fans and constitutes a meager offering composition-wise. But if the idea of the guitar trio being backed by such a skilled rhythm section makes you salivate, then by all means grab it. You won't be disappointed!

I love these guys and I may like this cover of Heart of the Sunrise evenbetter than I like hearing Yes perform it.

01. Melrose Ave

02. Skyline

03. Dancing Anne

04. Heart Of The Sunrise

05. Hanagasa

06. Zundoko Bushi

07. Blockhead

08. Dance Of Maya

09. Swampy Space

10. Swampy Return

11. Train To Lamy

12. Eve

13. What I Am

14. The Chase

Bert Lams: guitar, tenor guitar

Paul Richards: guitar, slide guitar

Hideyo Moriya: guitar, mando-cello

Tony Levin: bass, Chapman stick

Pat Mastelotto: traps and buttons

Produced by Bill Munyon & Pat Mastelotto with the CGT and Tony Levin

Recorded at Wire, Austin TX, 2-5 Sep 2001

Engineering by Bill Munyon, assisted by Todd Dillon

Additional mixing and assistance: Paul Richards, Bert Lams

Mastered by David Singleton, Alex Mundy; additional mastering by Jim Wilson

Art direction and design by Ioannis, Alan Chappell

Digital paintings & photography: Ioannis

Band photos by Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto

Notes: (****)

The California Guitar Trio were all once students of Robert Fripp's and have a long association with King Crimson and Tony Levin, for example guesting on Levin's Pieces of the Sun. Levin had toured before with the CGT when he and Mastelotto joined them to make this CG3+2 quintet for touring in 2001. After touring (and a live album, Live at the Key Club), they went into the studio and made this. (The initial plan had been for a tour and album had been with Terry Bozzio rather than Mastelotto on drums, but Bozzio dropped out shortly before touring began.)

Release was originally planned on Discipline Global Mobile, but cutbacks at DGM meant CG3+2 emerged on InsideOut.

CGT's Paul Richards described the album as "very different from any previously released CGT studio album. It features more of the electric/improvisational style of the CGT and has some amazing playing by Pat and Tony." "Heart of the Sunrise", "Dance of Maya", "Eve", "Melrose Avenue", "Zundoko-Bushi" and "Train to Lamy" were all heard on that earlier touring, while tracks (9), (10), (13) and (14) represent the sort of improvisation that had been going on. Pieces like "Melrose Avenue", "Blockhead", "Eve" and the cover of "Dance of Maya" date back further still. The cover of "Heart of the Sunrise" (which, of course, Levin played while in ABWH) is very nice: Howe's, Wakeman's and even many of Anderson's parts are covered by the CGT on guitars, while Levin and Mastelotto add their own flavours to the rhythm section.