TERAMAZE
TERAMAZE – “Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace”
By Colonel Angus
I love being able to review music but that is a double edged sword. Sure, I am introduced to a lot of new music that I wouldn’t necessarily be exposed to but on the flip side, I get exposed to so much music that some of it falls through the cracks. Plus, there are all the bands that I listen to and discover as just a music fan that compete for my time. TERAMAZE was one of those bands that fell through the cracks in my music intake. I first heard their “Esoteric Symbolism” disk a while back and I believe they were covered in the pages of PROG magazine so I did know about them. Because “Esoteric Symbolism” didn’t resonate with me (it just didn’t stick to the wall like other music), I just moved on to other bands and other records. Now that am I given the task of reviewing their latest record, I owe it to TERAMAZE and to you, my humble readers, to give this album a proper listening and really try to absorb the sounds.
Well, let me start by saying that I have no idea where my head (or specifically, my ears) were when I dismissed TERAMAZE the first time out. “Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace” is a fantastic prog metal album that incorporates so much melody that it almost becomes a genre all to its own; maybe melodic prog metal. From my research, this is the last piece of a concept that was started on “Her Halo” and continued on “Sorella Minore”. I’m not sure about the concept part because each track works perfectly on its own. I guess that is what makes a great concept record in that the songs all works together or all on their own.
The disk starts off with “A Place Called Halo” which is an intro that starts off with piano and then morphs into a sort of movie score with an ending that sounds like someone gasping for air after reaching the surface of the water. After that short intro, we get a melodic piece called “The Will of Eli” which over the course of eight plus minutes takes us on a musical journey that reminds me of a little bit of MARILLION but even more so of ENCHANT. As I mentioned earlier, there is plenty of melody throughout the track even though it twists and turns in different directions. There are heavier sections and then at around the five minute mark, there is a very mellow part that brings the sense of being in the ocean. The guitar work from Dean Wells and Chris Zoupa is superb and helps evoke those feelings and metal visuals.
As we continue, “Stand Right Up” goes a bit more prog metal with a brooding opening but quickly gets heavier with chunky riffing and soaring solos. Again, clocking in at over eight minutes, the listener is put through another musical journey albeit a bit more straight-forward than the previous tune. While the guitar work continues to stand out, I would also like to call out vocalist Nathan Peachey who puts in a powerhouse performance on not just this tune but the record as a whole. “I Mantissa” is another film score sounding intro but with a female hauntingly speaking. I guess this is a way to bring together the concept but again, each track works on its own.
“Madam Roma” is where the prog metal really kicks in and for comparison, this tune would fit comfortably on a DREAM THEATER record. It is much heavier than the previous material and while I really like it, I found the previous songs more original. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a great tune, but even the ending reminds me of material found on DREAM THEATER’s “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory” record. Aside from the two intros, “Standing Ovation” is the shortest tune here at only six minutes. It is has a nice heavy riff with the keyboards adding a nice element on top. Again, melody is a key component of this tune and while it has heavier parts, the vocal melodies carry the song. Even though it is a shorter track, there are plenty of prog moments sprinkled in to satisfy us prog metal fans.
If there is such a thing as a prog ballad, the song “Hands Are Tied” would be the dictionary definition. It starts off very mellow with just piano and vocals but with each passing moment, the track builds and builds into a crescendo before ending with just piano and vocals at the very end. Don’t let the ballad-y nature of this track sway you, it is still a great piece with some very powerful and emotional vocals from Peachey. This whole concept brings us to the epic “A Wonderful Fall from Grace” which almost bookends the record by stylistically sounding very much like “The Will of Eli”. I have to say, this is where TERAMAZE shines and sounds it’s most unique. “A Wonderful Fall from Grace” comes in at over fourteen minutes and one might think that is a long time to keep the listener’s attention but this track does it with ease. In fact, when it finishes, you’ll be left wondering where the time went because it moves along without overstaying its welcome. There is even a saxophone solo which I wouldn’t think would work but it not only works, I can’t imagine the song without it.
I have to admit TERAMAZE has certainly impressed me with “Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace” and I will have to go and research their previous material. I don’t know why they didn’t make a mark on my musical brain previously but this disk has carved a spot that I don’t think will ever wear away. I don’t know what other prog releases will be coming out in the months going forward but I can’t imagine they will be better than “Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace”. I’m sure it will top many reviewers’ lists as prog album of the year.