Galahad - Battle Scars
(AVALON
RECORDS GHCD10)
Empires
Never Last dates back five years ago and finally here is the sequel: Battle
Scars. An album which marks the parting of bassist Neil Pepper, who at 44 years
old, died of cancer last year. Pepper, despite the discomforts of the disease, still
managed to play all bass parts for both Battle Scars and Beyond The Realm Of
Euphoria, with a planned release for later this year. Out of respect, the
remaining band members decided to continue as a foursome and Pepper is
mentioned on three tracks as the composer / writer. Mark Spencer (Twelfth
Night) will take his place as bassist during the upcoming concerts.
On Battle
Scars the techno, ambient and dance influences, introduced since the
recruitment of keyboardist Dean Baker, are strongly extended. The result
contains a potpourri of styles and lifts Galahad, in terms of musical
presentation, to the 21st century, while the progressive roots through Hammond
and Mellotron samples are not forgotten. From the orchestral classical opening
of the title track the listener rumbles on a rollercoaster ride of styles,
tempo changes and atmospheres, which peaks on the trance excesses of Seize The
Day. Despite the difficult way of creating this album, the band completely goes
for it. Strong guitar playing by Roy
Keyworth, with old fashioned solos in Reach For The Sun and Singularity. The
pleasant voice of Stuart Nicholson and the now and then catchy vocal lines,
especially the title track and Seize The Day, which will make them great
sing-along songs during the upcoming concerts. Pepper's tight bass and the fine
drumming of Spencer Luckman and finally the evocative notes of Dean Baker. It
already makes Battle Scars one of the highlights of 2012.
No weaknesses
to mention? Yes, but some really silly ones. The limited available, 180 grams, vinyl
version, clocks at only 44 minutes. The cd (supplied free with the vinyl) contains
the 2012 version of Sleepers as a bonustrack. For the music lovers and the collectors among us, the website offers a free
downloadable demo version of the beautiful and highly sensitive Another Life
Not Lived. Stuart Nicholson and Neil Pepper originally wrote the song for this
album, but the band dared not to finish the song because of the burdened text
(download available) and the emotional experiences with Neil Pepper.
Tracklist:
Battle Scars
Reach For The Sun
Sungularity
Bitter And Twisted
Suspended Animation
Beyond The Barbed Wire
Seize The Day
Sleepers (cd only bonustrack)
Another Live Not Lived (demo; available for free from the band website)
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