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JAMES LABRIE
"Impermanent Resonance" (InsideOutMusic; 2013)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
James LaBrie is best known as the voice of
Dream Theater. This is his third solo disc and you might think "Impermanent
Resonance" would just be Dream Theater extended, but it's not. It's all his
original work and it sounds awesome. His voice has a very different tone on this
disc; it's almost melodic metal. Yes, there is still the progressive sound but
he doesn't just sing along to each track -- he also has screams and growls
coming from Peter Wildoer and they use their vocal instruments to tell the story
of each song.
Most Dream Theater songs develop so their time can clock in at twelve to fifteen
minutes. James LaBrie's songs are four to five minutes in length so you get a
lot more vocals as to where a DT track of twelve minutes might have him singing
for three or four. The music on "Impermanent Resonance" is heavy and melodic.
There are some hard rocking tracks and those sound right in line with LaBrie's
voice. The screaming vocals add a darker edge to the songs. It's somewhat of a
departure but welcomed because the sound is balanced very well and never
overdone. The guitar of Marco Sfogli is incredible. One of his idols is James
Petrucci (and he can sound just like him at times) but he's got his own sound
and style. LaBrie knows how to pick the right axe man to do the job.
I usually list the best tracks but this disc plays through so smoothly that I
would just suggest you cue it up and then sit back and listen.
The band: James LaBrie - vocals; Marco Sfogli - guitar; Matt Guillory -
keyboards and background vocals; ray Riendeau - bass guitar; Peter Wildoer -
drums and screaming vocals.
For more information, check out
http://www.jameslabrie.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2013 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised:
18 Mar 2024 13:23:52 -0500.
