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Rating:
The review of this latest project by singer Labrie was already present, but for my personal satisfaction, I wrote it because the previous one praised the album in question a little too much (even with 3 measly stars).
Elements of Persuasion has everything it takes to make it big: it has a singer that many would dream of, one of the most important in the entire global prog scene; it has at least an excellent rhythm section on the album, with a superlative Mike Mangini; it has an inspired Matt Guillory who created wonderful music with Dali's Dilemma; live, it has a bassist named Andy de Luca who has done various tours with SymphonyX; and then there's the surprise of Marco Sfogli, a new Italian talent. But what's wrong with the album?
Everything or almost everything. Especially its too obvious nod to Dream Theater not only in sound but in the compositions themselves. You might notice it from the opener "Crucify" which seems entirely like the intro of "A Change of Seasons". The album flows entirely between riffs and solos reminiscent of the five of the dream theater. Marco Sfogli is also a rather sore point in the entire work: technically impeccable but truly useless from a creative standpoint, with his solos that vainly attempt to mimic the master John Petrucci.
Only in calm tracks like "Lost" and especially "Slightly Out of Reach" do Labrie's emotive voice and a suitable solo by Sfogli lift the entire piece. Pathetic is the final "Drained". However, "In Too Deep" deserves praise solely for the final part of the track, and perhaps it would have been ideal to close the album.
I continue to say: what a pity. What a pity for the various references and the huge nu-metal influence and the enormous presence of electronics on the album. A pity because Labrie sings well and it will be felt live. Truly a pity.
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