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Rating: In 2001, a Swedish prog metal band released "Extension Of The Wish"; the band recalls the sound of groups such as Dream Theater, Children of Bodom, Threshold, Watchtower, and Arch Enemy. Andromeda presents Prog Metal merged with Power Metal in instrumental parts, and there are Power Death parts. Martin Hedin makes an absolutely brilliant use of keyboards and is a unique arranger, while guitarist Johnas Reinholds, despite having superb technique, always works in service of the others. What to say about the rhythm section composed of Thomas Lejon on drums and Gert Daun on bass, a true war machine. Special mention also goes to the singer: truly a great performer.
"The Words Unspoken" begins with the guitar riff that will repeat throughout the song, then the voice starts with a melodic chorus; it is nothing exceptional but can improve. The instrumental part is in the style of Dream Theater, with a guitar solo accompanied by keyboards, bass, and drums. The ending is sudden. "Crescendo Of Thought" starts with the usual guitars and keyboards, which stand out much more compared to the previous track. Midway through the song, there is a good guitar solo, good at the beginning, but it loses itself in the end. The track is similar to the previous one, also in structure. With "In The Deepest Of Waters" the group starts getting serious. Excellent start, I was particularly struck by the bass, but the other musicians also have a certain technique. Then, after about a minute and a half, there’s a keyboard break and the voice begins, much better than in the previous songs. After three minutes and forty seconds, the pace slows down, but the keyboard quickly resumes, delighting our ears with a small phantasmagoric solo. The song has a very elaborate ending. The instrumental "Chameleon Carnival" starts with the usual guitar and then softens with the keyboard. The central guitar solo is truly phenomenal. Excellent Prog.
"Starshooter Supreme" begins with very aggressive vocals, I would say almost rapping. This song is saved only by the keyboards and the guitar solo. The worst song on the album. A very inspired keyboardist starts to play "Extension of the Wish", the best song of the album. After the first two instrumental minutes, the guitar starts to stand out, accompanied by an excellent drummer. From here, our guys delight us with what they do best: arousing strong emotions thanks to sublime arrangements and masterful melodies with a great instrumental part (an inevitable comparison with "Metropolis Pt. 1" by Dream Theater). Thus begins the seventh and final song, "Arch Angel", the least aggressive song on the album, which after an intense beginning makes room for piano and voice with a melody of surprising flavor, eventually concluding with a guitar solo (pity about the fade out).
In short, it will surely thrill all Prog Metal connoisseurs, like me; this band will do even better with the albums "II=I" and "Chimera". Nonetheless, "Extension Of The Wish" always remains a good debut album.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Crescendo of Thoughts (05:24)
Opened wide, eyes to see,
Within, beyond and behind
Faces never seen,
My mind is expiring, beyond all limits
Impulses and thoughts torn
into meaningless words
The darkest of demons are hidden
behind the happiest faces
I wear the mask of fear
Impulses and thoughts torn
into meaningless words
stained on this paper, like the liquid of life
from a slit wrist
I have nothing to say, yet I desperately search
searching for the shadows of mine
yet undiscovered, hidden within
Opened wide, eyes to see,
Within, beyond and behind
Faces never seen
I have nothing to say, yet I desperately search
searching for the shadows of mine
yet undiscovered, hidden within
Impulses and thoughts torn
into meaningless words
stained on this paper, like the liquid of life
from a slit wrist
03 In the Deepest of Waters (07:07)
In the depths I saw something beckoning me
An ugly shape deep down in the sea
In the corner of my eye, an inner world so blind
But I know, yes I know; it's only in my mind
In the depths I mirror myself, twisted reflections
It is not me, must be a wicked imagination
In the language of sorrow at the bottom of the sea
The shape turns it's head and speaks to me
I am too many for my shadow on the wall
Into the deepest of water we hand in hand fall
Voices do surround, sadness is unbound
We dive, tranquillity in death is found
A shadow walks beside me, my liquid gemini
As I weep, It laughs, above the silent sky
And as I laugh, It kills me with every passing second,
with every passing second...In the deepest of waters...
I am too many for my shadow on the wall
Into the deepest of waters we hand in hand fall
Voices do surround, sadness is unbound
We dive, tranquillity in death is found...
In the depths I saw something beckoning me
An ugly shape deep down in the sea
In the corner of my eye, an inner world so blind
But I know, yes I know; it's only in my mind
In the language of sorrow at the bottom of the sea
The shape turns its head and speaks to me
05 Star Shooter Supreme (05:18)
I wanna ride on a shooting star
Ride through cosmos so very far
See the ground down there below
The speed of light's our only foe
A mighty milkyway crusade
Nothing can make the feeling fade
Floating skywards at the speed of light
Oh, yeah what a beautiful flight!
Turn your head to the skies
Embrace that which never dies
Behold, for it's not a dream
It's me star shooter supreme!
Hello Terra Firma! Here we come!
Yeah! We're having some astral fun
Circle of friends, planets in motion
And the sun has a smile like an ocean
Mighty milkyway crusade
Nothing can make the feeling fade
Floating skywards at the speed of light
Oh, yeah what a beautiful flight!
Turn your head against the skies
Embrace that which never dies
Behold, for it's not a dream
It's me start shooter supreme!
Ride on my brothers, fly on
Descending fast, but still we have won
A mighty milkyway crusade
Nothing can make the feeling fade
Ride on my brothers, fly on
Descending fast, but still we have won
Floating skywards at the speed of light
Hell yeah, what a beautiful flight!
Come on!
Turn your head to the skies
Embrace that which never dies
Behold, for it's not a dream
It's me star shooter supreme
Turn your head against skies
Embrace that which never dies
Behold, for it's not a dream
It's me star shooter supreme
Oh yeah!
06 Extension of the Wish (10:03)
This is where I stand
This is who I am
This is the way it had to be
Arrows point in every direction
Where to turn, seek to learn;
Lies in the sand of time
Closing my mind to remember
But there is nothing to forget
All I ever had is here, before me
Open up the opened and collect
This is the written word
This is who I am
This is the extension of the wish;
Conviction will blossom,
As failure laughs in my face
I'll still be waiting for my turn
Closing my mind to remember
But there is nothing to forget
All I ever had is here, before me
Open up the opened and collect
Closing my mind to remember
But there is nothing to forget
All I ever had is here, before me
Open up the opened and collect
07 Arch Angel (05:53)
Again and again I fall into your arms
Your embrace; my only true home
My sanctuary from the cold outside
Your embrace; my only destiny
Archangel, come spread your wings around me
Give me air to breathe and tears to shed
Archangel, come spread your wings around me
Give me air to breathe and tears to shed
Feed me lies of hope; words so bittersweet
Save me from myself and the agony within
Archangel, come spread your wings around me
Cure my fever, heal my longing, everlasting
For this world, was not created for you and me
Naked, unprotected we have fallen, down
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