Just when you thought that you had fully digested Heretik Volume I comes this adventurous sequel from Canadian prog stalwarts Nathan Mahl. Continuing from where the story left off, our main character now awaits his trial for speaking out and rebelling against the governing bodies, knowing full well in his own mind that he is innocent. Lyrically there is not much else to take in here. The few vocal sections briefly deal with the prosecution's case against the main character, and by contrast the accused's thoughts on his predicament. Otherwise Guy LeBlanc and the boys, well, do what they do best.
Musically, this CD picks up exactly where the band left off with Heretik Volume I. Led by LeBlanc’s sheer virtuosity behind the keyboards and Marc Spenard’s emotional, raw guitar playing, the band is again cooking on all cylinders. Once the opening vocal section is through on “Entrance of the Judges,” LeBlanc and Spenard fire off furious solos at breakneck pace, and then share some complex unison lines to wind it all down. It never ceases to amaze me just how talented a player LeBlanc is. Utilizing various instruments such as Hammond, electric and acoustic piano, clavinet, Moog, and even the hot Korg Trinity, Guy whips up melodic, tasty solos and symphonic arrangements. As with the previous CD, there are only a few tracks, or suites if you will, included here, and all are very lengthy. Much of the music is like a cross between Gentle Giant and symphonic fusion, with a heavier guitar edge, best exemplified on “De Praestigliis Daemonum.” If you dig complex, challenging music, you have come to the right place.
Once again, the only slight negative here is LeBlanc’s vocals. At times they are fine, but at others he really sounds like he is struggling to get the lines across. Maybe for Heretik Volume III (due out late 2001) he will employ a full-time singer who can better get his story across. Still, this is about 80% instrumental, and a fine continuation of one of the better concept albums in prog we have heard in a while.
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