Shadow Gallery - Tyranny

Shadow Gallery is frequently attacked as being "too saccharine", which is a reference to SG's combination of vocal harmonies (some see this as wimpy) and sugary ballad-type songs. One would think that this is all Shadow Gallery is about after reading some reviews but that is an unfair and inaccurate portrayal and, hopefully, this review will show the truth about this oft maligned band. Shadow Gallery is one of the most diverse prog metal bands around and, yes, they know a good ballad when they write one but SG can rock with the best of them, easily matching the heaviness of Dream Theater. Every member of SG is a excellent musician, from Carl Cadden-James on bass to Brendt Allman's superb guitar work and Chris Ingles' and Gary Wehrkhamp providing a dual keyboard attack throughout. Its the keyboards that often give Shadow Gallery that unique sound that they have, and on "Tyranny" it has come together with perfection. Great musicianship is fine and dandy but fantastic songwriting is even more valuable and this is where SG shines. Carl Cadden-James and Mike Baker (SG's vocalist) have crafted some incredibly beautiful vocal melodies coupled with thoughtful lyrics. Allman, Ingles, Wehrkamp and Cadden-James did a great job with the music as well. Epic music comes together with fabulous vocal melodies and creates a sweeping rock opera, Tyranny, Shadow Gallery's latest release. This album showcases Shadow Gallery's diversity to the fullest, Tyranny is one heckuva an album. Where their earlier release, "Carved In Stone" suffered in the production area, "Tyranny" cranks it up to the next level with a very polished, crisp sound that puts a brilliant spotlight on both the technical and atmospheric parts equally, bringing out the richness of each.

While most bands that release concept albums tend to leave gaps in both the story and the overall concept they are attempting to illustrate musically, Shadow Gallery manages to fall in the small category of bands that have managed to take some ideas and turn it into a fully fleshed out story. To lightly touch upon the basic points of the tale told within this disc, there are many ways its been interpreted. Internet conspiracy, a corporation based world fueled by the sting of politics, military oppression of the poor by the richer more powerful class, once blended together you have a basic idea of what is going on among the complex story that dives inside the mind, emotions and world of the main character and his struggles along the way. The first Act is embedded deep into hopelessness, with a bleak feel throughout, while Act II sheds the light of hope on the situation overall. The slow turning from a futile outlook to the more uplifting ending is a breathtaking trip within itself. The main influence for the story can roughly be linked back to the book (and movie) titled "1984". The secondary influence of this album is strongly grounded in the now classic progressive masterpiece of a concept album, "Operation: Mindcrime" by Queensryche. Both "Tyranny" and "Mindcrime" have twists and turns throughout, both in story and musically to create an extremely satisfying experience.

To add to all of this, there's also a host of guest musicians, including James LaBrie from Dream Theater, the golden voice of DC Cooper (ex-Royal Hunt), and Laura Yeager.

Act I

1.] "Stiletto in the Sand" - What the heck is this saccharine talk? This instrumental is heavy on the guitar and the keyboards are moving at the speed of light. It hits you with all the subtlety of a two ton heavy thing. No sugar here, just heavy metal thunder.
2.] "War for Sale" - This excellent tune is actually a continuation of "Stiletto in the Sand", stinging lyrically while bouncing around in a pompous pop progressive outer musical shell. The heaviness from "Stilleto" continues with Mike Baker's superb voice, he is easily one of rock/metal's best vocalists.
3.] "Out of Nowhere" - Now things slow down a bit, here we have a pretty cool chugga-chugga guitar thing going on and Shadow Gallery's trademark vocal harmonies soar (think Dokken or Queen). Good song.
4.] "Mystery" - Maybe the best song on the album (it is hard to choose), the vocal harmonies, again, really highlight this incredible song. Plus, it is extremely catchy, especially the chorus.
5.] "Hope for Us?" - Okay, this song is probably what people are referring to when they accuse SG of being too saccharine...screw 'em (the naysayers, that is, not SG)! This is a fantastically beautiful song filled to the brim with plenty of emotional depth.
6.] "Victims" - Featuring notable interaction between piano and guitar, both acoustic and electric. There is a recurring musical theme in the song that keeps cropping back up and leads into the next track. Good, heavy tune.
7.] "Broken" - Beautiful, depressing, and emotional, this song is all of these things and more. The turning point of the album.

Act II

8.] "I Believe" - Cascading keyboards and multi time changes, flows from mid tempo progressiveness to quick pumping rhythms and a crisp, clear guitar solo backed by light piano. James LaBrie contributes guest vocals on this exceptional song.
9.] "Roads of Thunder" - Slower sections, frantic parts interchange with a high near the end that sports crunchy guitar as the song weaves into dropping on a conversation that adds tidbits to the story line and comes to an abrupt close with the ringing of a telephone. And, again, the vocal harmonies really stand out.
10.] "Spoken Words" - Simply breathtaking. The vocal exchange between Mike Baker and Laura Yeager is a tear jerker. If this doesn't move you emotionally, then nothing will. Driven mostly by piano, it allows for a wide open vocal domination, and the soaring voices capture it all. Definitely a power ballad, that is unique in the fact it allows both male and female side to voice their doubts, fears and feelings.
11.] "New World Order" - Shining with lots of vocal melodies and the golden pipes of DC Cooper to add to the slinking, mysteriously dark feel of this centerpiece song. One of the outstanding tunes of 1998, because of its mood driven feel given life to both vocal performance and some interesting string sections in the middle executed nicely in a classical fashion.
12.] "Chased" - The title says it all, and the music just supports it. Hints of Dream Theater can be felt in full force in the flurry that is "Chased". An instrumental rich with guitar heroics and tons of keys pulsing and pounding out the sound of a wild escape. Although not an essential track, it does progress the story
right along without even needing lyrics to illustrate it.
13.] "Ghost of a Chance" - Slowly moving and beautiful. Even more keys straight out of the book of progressive perfection give this one its backbone. The sound of the whistling wind gives it transition into the final track of the album.
14.] "Christmas Day" - This story comes to a close on a holiday. Giving added atmosphere is some flute and piano refrains that remind me a lot of the theme music from the original Final Fantasy video games. Light and gorgeous throughout the song, setting the scene for the main character who is out waiting and wondering if she will come. Outstanding simple piano melodies fuse a dim spark of hope which exchanges for elaborate guitar cascading through a solo then more piano that drifts like the snow that falls on "Christmas Day". The delicate ending draws the epic to a close and answers the question if there really is "Hope For Us"?