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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.
Tracklist and Lyrics
12 Drained (05:10)
The air's so thick
It blurs my vision
I can't think straight
In this condition
This dim lit hall
Is stretching further
Not knowing
What I might discover
Through a door half open
A painted light bulb swings
Casting someones shadow
Reaching towards me
Something draws me here
Not sure
Feeling Drained
Still I am curious
Haunts me
Taunts me
Now I start to Gravitate
Remain composed
I hear some laughter
The darkness in me
Moving faster
A handle turned
A door is opened
Ashtrays
Cigarettes still smoking
And there again before me
The painted light bulb swings
And see I cast the shadow
The one I saw moving
Cannot catch my breath
Can't cope
His face turns toward me
Can't be
Not me
The man in the mirror
It's all too clear
As I stood there
Acknowledged him
In reflective glare
I don't quite understand
Why any of this
Is who I am
I'm damned cause I doubt
It's part of me
Trick of the mind
Schizo you see
It's like awakening
I'm in
Someone elses skin
Molds me
Holds me
Controlled
Left me Drained and empty
Transformed
Shifting
I peer inside
Like quicksand
You pulled me
Down deeper
All twisted inside of me
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Other reviews
By Macabro
The stubborn search for extremely different sounds is too evident: it ranges from nu-metal to electronic music, even including scratches that frankly could have been easily avoided.
What raises this album is LaBrie’s great performance, confirming him as one of the greatest singers on the planet.
By RiccardoBenzoni
I call him James 'the whiner' now.
You CAN'T AFFORD a solo album like this.
