Elysium Theory: Modern Alchemy

Here in the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York, progessive rock is not necessarily an art form that is making lots of waves, so I was quite surprised and thrilled to be contacted by Elysium Theory, a five piece prog band who also happen to be from this beautiful yet 'prog-less' area that I live in. Their debut album is called Modern Alchemy, a strong collection of songs that rely on tight musicianship, well thought out songs, strong vocals, and plenty of melody. Though there are similarities at times to Dream Theater, Elysium Theory rarely go over into progressive metal territory, though Modern Alchemy can certainly be looked at as a more aggressive prog album. In truth, the album walks that fine line between progressive rock and progressive metal, making it a release that both camps can easily enjoy.

The band is comprised of Dan Peterson on vocals, Tim Reid on guitars, keyboard player Benny Reyes, bassist Jeff Fister, and drummer Ted Feeney. After the brief opening instrumental "Lorimer's Pulse", the band kicks into the title track, a moody, driving number complete with pumping guitar riffs, majestic keys, and the soaring vocals of Peterson. You can instantly hear just how talented a singer Dan is as the band dives into "Spiritcom", a real symphonic number that recalls early Dream Theater as well as Saga, and his commanding pipes deliver the goods on the heavy "All Seeing Eye". If there was a perfect middle ground between James LaBrie and Michael Sadler, Peterson would be it.

Plenty of highlights abound on Modern Alchemy, including the textured "Beyond Yourself", which has a great guitar solo from Reid and a warm extended synth passage courtesy of Reyes, as well as the epic "The Source". This one takes the listener through an exciting journey, as the band impresses on many levels not only with solo spots (Reyes & Reid turn in wild solo exchanges) but also with tight ensemble playing, especially Fister, whose acrobatic drum fills will keep you entertained for the duration. If you like heavier material, there's the crunchy "Chaos" and the bombastic "Russian Winter", but seeing as most prog fans love epics, the other near 9-minute piece, "Intrigued by Faith" closes out the CD in fine fashion. Plenty of atmospheric keyboards on this one and some Hackett/Rothery inspired fret work, plus the dramatic and powerful vocals of Peterson.

Another plus is the great cover art, which is especially well done considering that this is an independent release. If there are any slight quibbles, it's on the production side, as the mix could have been a tad brighter and the guitars a little more upfront, but otherwise those are minor points on what is otherwise a very solid release. Elysium Theory have been the Hudson Valley's little secret for a while, but now that Modern Alchemy is out, I'm sure that many of the prog-rock record labels will be taking notice.

Track Listing
1. Lorimer's Pulse (1:39)
2. Modern Alchemy (5:31)
3. Spiritcom (7:36)
4. All Seeing Eye (4:50)
5. Beyond Yourself (6:54)
6. The Source (8:39)
7. Chaos (5:46)
8. Russian Winter (6:50)
9. River in the Sky (5:31)
10. Blacklight Reflection (5:01)
11. Intrigued by Faith (8:24)

Added: March 29th 2011
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 6305
Language: english

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