High Tide
High Tide

Second album by a group with a unique style... one of the few groups capable of masterfully blending the sweetness of the violin and the acidity of the guitar filtered through wah-wah pedals... Some prog critics describe it as one of the first Dark-prog albums, others as the first Prog-metal... in my opinion, it's an album with a slightly psychedelic tint and many, but MANY new ideas, an excellent violin, a very distorted guitar (I don't quite like the guitarist's technique...) a hoarse voice... perhaps scared, perhaps weeping... The work opens with a splendid piece: Black man cries again... an excellent mix of underground progressive and psychedelia... here you are faced with a true "wall of sound"... what a wonder (and to think it might be the least beautiful track on the entire album!).

Now we come to an epic piece... incredible... with a surprise that tastes of baroque romanticism... The Joke. Here a dramatic, lysergic, dreamlike voice takes us adrift... a storm of emotions: it's like a journey on a ship destined to disappear into the unconscious's depths... terrifying! And right in this piece, after a beautiful layer of strong, acid, and determined sounds, comes the most beautiful violin solo I've ever heard on a prog music record... who can hold back the tears?

And finally, a last piece, long but very imaginative... with an untranslatable title: Saneonymous. Very acidic opening, swirling passages and a very dramatic conclusion... unparalleled voice. Guys, this is truly a gem of prog! Those who haven't should go out and buy it immediately! (If you don't like it, there's always the excellent cover, right?)