Illusion Suite
Final Hour

After Circus Maximus, Norway returns to the shores of prog metal with the debut album of IllusionSuite released in 2009. Their proposition in itself does not present particular cues compared to what bands like Suspyre or Vanden Plas have already showcased, yet they demonstrate sufficient compositional skills so as not to have to replicate the ideas of top bands like Dream Theater or Symphony X, as Kingcrow and Circus Maximum themselves have partially done.

The sound of "Final Hour" appears centered on the groove of the riffs and is embellished by the keyboard textures which remain on the fringes of the sonic impression; a choice that will recur throughout the duration of the album, leaving aside alternative hypotheses such as the presence of numerous tempo changes, which we will not find even in the longer pieces.

This choice may perhaps be a double-edged sword since the album never manages to take off or touch the emotional strings of the listener who does not pay attention solely to the technical abilities of the musicians, on the other hand achieving a unusual sonic compactness for a proposal that invariably winks at the melodic aspect in the compositions, consequently giving rise to a distinct power metal influence.

Another probable flaw is Bill Markalowicz's singing, technically gifted but unable to find an original style, positioning himself halfway between Russel Allen and Michael Eriksen of Circus Maximus, but with significantly less impact compared to them. During the listening of the album, one also notices the absence of memorable tracks, neither catchy nor exhibiting particular technical displays, which I would define as absent. Even the suite-ballad "A Moment to Remember" introduces no novelty in this field, despite the accompaniment by a female voice and various rhythmic and interpretative changes both in the vocals and the riffs, unlike the concluding "A Ghost From The Past', which at least attempts to propose distinct vocal solutions from what has been seen so far.

In conclusion, I want to quote the famous phrase "nothing new under the sun", aware of the fact that Illusionsuite know their stuff in the progressive field, and who knows if with future works they will manage to find a foothold that will bring them to prominence in the sector. This is what I wish for them; for the moment, their proposal remains within reach for all lovers of prog and power, provided one does not expect too much in the way of innovation or sonic "violence".