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Music Reviews:

Inside Out Music – 2005

The band comes out hard with "Crucify." The riffs are heavy but melody is always held with the utmost importance. Sfogli brings an avalanche of heaviness within his riffs and Mangini and Beller back this. Guillory puts icing on the cake with his keyboards. Musical creativity strikes throughout the album with totally unpredictability and it’s the band’s real strength. Sfogli tears it up with Guillory, which at times is undetectable who is playing what part.

Sfogli creates this nasty wicked guitar distorted squeal that bounces back and fourth with sampled record scratching sounds that give "Alone" real distinct identity. Guillory and Sfogli tag team to explode the solo section and then comes the best part of the song (4:13) where drifting ocean wave like keyboard song is combined with heartbeat like percussive sound and Sfogli’s acoustic guitar. Absolutely brilliant musicianship.

"Freak" is one of my favorite tracks off this masterpiece of a CD. Sfogli sets the tone with heavy guitar riff that Mangini and Beller embellish with a deep foundation. Guillory brings a wide arrange of keyboard sounds and samples to this third song. The whispery-squeezing effect on James LaBrie’s voice is creepy and powerful. The way the band goes into the solo section is unlike anything I’ve heard anybody else do. Things get quiet…then Sfogli starts this cascading soft tapping sound that builds up to a crescendo, which gives into some serious shredding. The way these techniques are connected together makes them invisible and has a wonderful effect.

Guillory sets the table with his eerie samples and Beller’s dark bass lines. Sfogli punctuates this with his heavy-duty riff. James LaBrie’s voice fits perfectly in this musical environment. Guillory fluttering shiny keyboard tone in this tune is awesome. You would almost swear Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci is playing the solo in this tune but it’s Marco Sfogli.

Mike Mangini creates a beautiful groove with Bryan Beller in "Lost." James LaBrie sounds comfortable in this tune and Guillory’s piano gives the song a haunting quality.

Sfogli brings back heaviness with his powerful distorted chucky, squealing guitar in "Undecided." This band is so tight and talented mixed with LaBrie’s voice that you might think you are listening to Dream Theater.

One of my other favorite tracks is the seventh song "Smashed." This is such a beautifully emotional tune that it will immediately grow on you. The softness of Mangini’s drums and Guillory’s piano is pure sweetness. Beller and Sfogli play delicately underneath so that James LaBrie can tell the story that had to come from the horrific events of 9/11.

The heaviness of "Pretender" attacks and affirms that this band is the real thing.

The mellow percussion & bass of "Slightly Out Of Reach" has nice contrast with Guillory’s gorgeous piano and Sfogli’s clean distorted guitar. LaBrie’s voice fits like a glove within the song. Guillory and Sfogli play alongside each other to heighten the song’s emotionality.

James LaBrie sings "Oblivious" like the master vocalist he is. The bridge and chorus parts are outstanding and memorable.

Sfogli blasts the rhythm of "In Too Deep." Mangini and Beller make sure we feel the tension what the song is about. The rhythm guitar part in the middle of song almost sounds like the tail end of a machine gun. I also like the wavering guitar rhythm. Cool bluesy guitar part is a nice touch at the end.

The band ends the CD with "Drained." Matt Guillory sets the tune up with some cosmic little samples before Sfogli’s sledgehammer rhythm is combined with Mangini drums and Beller’s bass. Sfogli’s solo…wow!

Now let me spin this CD again. I can’t get enough of it.

www.insideoutmusic.com