Blew my head off right from the first listen. Please, just go and buy it.
'Take A Seat' – a very understated title for a debut album from the young Canadian progsters that really blew my head off right from the first listen. It seems only fair that I alert you immediately that this is one helluva great record and that 68 minutes in its company will be time well spent and will pass quickly – if you enjoy great music that places it slightly on the cusp of prog rock with predominantly prog metal sensibilities.
Comprising Vincent Lebeouf Gadreau (guitars, vocals), Simon Gourdeau (bass), Pier-Luc Garand Dion (vocals), Mathieu Chamberland (keyboards) and Etienne Doyon (drums, vocals), the members of Inner Odyssey appear to be extraordinarily mature in their approach given their relative youth, and both the profound and at times harrowingly dark lyrics plus their instrumental prowess and amazing musicality are nothing short of astounding. I am always wary when so many reviews draw comparisons with Dream Theater, but mine don't. However, here they are perfectly valid. But what is most amazing is that this debut knocks DT's 'When Dream And Day Unite' into a cocked hat – and it could be successfully argued, some of their other releases too. Perhaps a controversial thing to suggest...
Much of this album is epic. The three contiguous parts of 'Light Years Away' occupy the first 16 minutes while 'Grazed, Haunted & Besmirched' and 'Dehumanize Me' are both 13 minute giants. Only the emotional, piano-drenched 'Part Of Her' is succinct, but this demonstrates that the band is far from being a one trick pony. Whatever the track length, the band has managed to keep everything not only supremely interesting, but also capable of supplying new discoveries with every play. I'm now beyond my sixth, and I'm still uncovering new revelations. I hope I've already said enough to entice the curious, but if not may I recommend you try and sample the three parts of 'Light Years...' Part 1 is an FX-filled Floydian instrumental, Part 2 introduces the wonderfully clear vocals and top notch keyboard and guitar performances while the magnificent, lengthy, Part 3 launches into prog metal big time, with DT references a plenty, but also with the occasional nod in the direction of Metallica and others. I'm sure you will be mesmerised: just as I was!
I have made copious notes for this review, but would need a full page to elaborate from them about how special this album is. Please, just go and buy it....
Paul Jerome Smith
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