James La Brie's Mullmuzzler
Mullmuzzler 2

Let's start from the premise that if musicians like James Labrie, Wehrkamp, Cadden-James, and Gardner meet, or rather, reunite, the result cannot be anything but captivating. Thus, the second side project of the "voice" of Dream Theater is born, the second Mullmuzzler which significantly exceeds expectations if we also give a listen to its predecessor.

Passion and sentiment surface as you continue to listen to the tracks, and James doesn't fail to let us appreciate his voice and vocal skills. "Afterlife" opens the album with a sweet melody and with the second track, "Venice Burning", we get to the heart of it, thanks to a very respectable rhythmic section that makes the track lively and captivating, a typical prog piece. In "Confronting The Devil", "Falling", James proves remarkable vocal maturity, indulging in respectable technical skills. The fourth track calms the atmosphere: it is a very refined and melancholic ballad, pleasant and simple, but not trivial.

"Stranger" is one of the iconic tracks of the album, with its undeniable Pink Floyd influences. The driving force of the drums and keyboard make the track dynamic and aggressive. "Simple Man" brings back a serene atmosphere before making way for a raw and dark "Save Me".
"Believe" is sweet, disillusioned, it is simply the dream, the journey, the feeling in its pure state. A chilling melody, full of memories, full of hopes. When it's said that music is emotion, this track is its most emblematic representation. A ballad of passion. "Close your eyes and begin to relax."

"Listening" will continue to relax you, before making way for the last track, the ingenious "Tell Me", unpredictable, which closes an album truly unmissable for Labrie and progressive music fans in general. A step above its predecessor "Keep Into Yourself", more refined, more sophisticated, more passionate.