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Rating: Two years after the first installment, the sequel to "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness" is released.
This new work connects a lot to the sounds of the previous one, further distancing itself from the first two. This new lp is a concept album inspired by the sci-fi comic series, "The Amory Wars" conceived by the frontman and leader of the group Claudio Sanchez.
In this album, the psychedelic-experimental tones of the previous one are decidedly more subdued, leaving more room for the band's '70s Heavy Metal flair. In some passages, you can immediately notice the reminiscences of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Thin Lizzy, although never abandoning the subtle nuances reminiscent of Yes rather than Pink Floyd. The single "The Running Free" perfectly illustrates what has just been said. The choruses (granting the benefit of my few listens) are not entirely convincing, too often spilling into power-pop refrains typical of all the little bands pretending to do rock on MTV.
There are certainly good moments; just listen to tracks like "Mother Superior" and "The Hound (Of Blood and Rank)" with an opening that is a clear homage to the Who. A separate discussion should be made for the long final suite divided into 5 parts, as this is indeed the real gem of the whole work where rock tinges with increasingly progressive tones until culminating in the masterpiece "On the Brink", a piece of over 7 minutes that is very reminiscent of albums like "Meddles" or "The Wall" (note the break akin to "In the Flesh") where experimentation mixes with progressive and jazz.
Ultimately, a CD that lacks a bit of originality, but is honest overall. Definitely not a masterpiece that will remain in the annals, but a good album, without great pretensions.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 The Reaping (01:13)
Hell must know
there have been worse things I've done,
I hold out these hands to receive the sum
Purge these days
Will we accept the things we must?
The world will now learn of change to come...or no world
06 No World For Tomorrow (05:05)
Wait!
There's never been a mess like this, no more hands to hold
When the page turns tomorrow with the hurt to give up
Curse us as God has
Believe me, Hell has no room for your crime
Beat me until the blood & the bone find our end near
Bye, bye world
Or will our hope still hold on?
Boy, you're never going to see
The things that will come of these (days)
Raise your hands high! Young brothers and sisters
There's a world's worth of work and a need for you
Oh a change is coming, feel these doors now closing in
Is there no world for tomorrow, if we wait for today?
So march to the drumming, show them you're coming
You've been their play toy
Cut to the carving, bleed them 'til robbing
Enough! They'll take no more
You've been given all the power, boy. Now go and make your move
Curse us, these gods aren't faking,
Have mercy on the cowards, boy. They'll pray to have you lose
Help us, this world's now breaking
So now they've noticed all you've given in sound, Let us in, let us in
Give me love over life the sweet soft of ground, Let us in, let us in now
In the light we'll sing, As all hurt must bring, In the falling cusp, Of all broken things
In the coming dusk, You will call on us, And unite we must, I'm the Crowing!
You all think you've figured me out, Do as I say
Your words mean nothing at all, So now I lay
I said, "Come, Momma! Come, Momma! As I need."
I said, "Come, Momma! Come, Momma! Will watch you bleed."
What did I do to deserve all of this? What did I do to deserve all of you?
08 Feathers (04:55)
History’s made its mark in anger.
As everybody knows it's what we do;
it's nothing new.
The next chords struck are Fault and Failure,
and we both know the finger points on cue.
There’s blame for two
Do you really want him coming Newo?
Do you really think it’s coming back to you?
Hold as the world stop spinning with that writing on the wall.
You’re neither Newo.
You’ll be cushion just enough to break my fall.
Why don’t you cry?
‘Cause right there baby, in the path
‘cause if you want it all.
Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home, for you've been such a liar.
Hide your feathers near your back porch maybe to open up,
to cry your sorry eyes out.
There's a scream outside your window.
I'm only here to make my peace with you.
There's something new.
Oh, it was our time, feeding out lines.
If I could do things different, what would I choose?
Oh, don't you cry, Mama.
Please, don't cry Mama.
Oh, don't you cry, no, no.
Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home, for you've been such a liar.
Hide your feathers near your back porch maybe to open up,
to cry your sorry eyes out.
No other, could wait for a lover.
To erase, boy, when there's no more room for love,
you sail her off to the shores.
No other, could wait for a lover.
To erase, boy, when there's no more room for love,
you sail her off to the shores.
Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home, for you've been such a liar.
Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home, for you've been such a liar.
Hide your feathers near your back porch maybe to open up,
to cry your sorry eyes.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
I'm in love.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Oh don't you cry, Mama.
Oh, don't you cry, no, no.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
I'm in love.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Oh don't you cry, Mama.
Oh don't you cry, no, no.
09 The Running Free (04:12)
All non-believers stand aside and fear.
A new day is marching through the door.
How could you ever think you might get here?
Did it bleed? Was it sore?
Through the struggles you've endured.
You've come so far from innocence
Provided all the consequence.
Only what does it matter now?
Cause your going home.
You're running free
As only you would be if you never owed them anything.
And now you've found your way out.
In the trust you've seen your path on home.
Spend your time well before you go
Here in hell.
Your living ends before the engineer.
What was your motive in this fight?
(Did they play you for the weaker of them?)
How could you ever think you might get here?
Was it greed that pushed your heart through the struggles you've endured?
You've come so far from innocence
Provided all the consequnce.
Only what does it matter now?
Cause you're going home.
You're running free.
As only you would be if you never owed them anything.
And now you've found your way out
In the trust you've seen your path on home.
Spend your time well before you go
Here in hell.
(There's a hell in all of us)
Spend your time well before you go.
(There's a hell in all of us)
In a loss that's all your own.
(There's a hell in all of us)
There are no secrets you can hide.
(There's a hell in all of us)
From yourself, in your mind.
Leave the worst of all behind.
Cause you're going home.
You're running free.
As only you would be if you never owed them anything.
And now, you've found your way out.
In the trust you've seen your path on home.
Cause you're going home.
You're running free.
As only you would be if you never owed them anything.
And now, you've found your way out.
In the trust you've seen your path on home.
Spend your time well before you go
Here in hell.
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