A big pat on the back to Noise Records for reissuing the first four Conception albums. I’m a big fan of In Your Multitude and this beauty, Flow. Extra bonus points for putting unreleased material on the fourth side instead of the pointless etched side. If Prog metal is your thing and you don’t own this, then I suggest adding it to your collection.
Gethsemane gets us under way, the beautiful melody and cool guitar is just haunting. Superb opening track! Angel is a lot heavier, that riff is epic and what a killer vocal from Roy Khan. This album is a lot more accessible than previous efforts with the melodies and hooks being a lot more prominent. A Virtual Love Story mixes the crunch with the melody perfectly. I love the bass groove in the middle section.
The title track opens up Side 2 and the this is about as commercial as the band have ever been, it’s my favourite track on the album. A superb melody and hook, and the vocal is just superb. Cry is a slower number with emphasis on the vocal and an almost hip hop beat. Reach Out starts with an electronic drum groove and fuzzed bass, then the song falls into a very heavy riff and choppy groove. A very heavy slow groove and riff to Tell Me When I’m Gone. It sounds killer!!!
Side C starts with Hold On, it is almost medieval in its sound with harpsichord and strings. Cardinal Sin is a close second for the best track award. I love the main melody and hook, it’s a goosebump moment for sure. Big shout out to guitarist Tore Ostby whose playing throughout is killer. The album properly closes out with Would It Be The Same, a heavy dose of the chuggas kicks things along, and as with every song on the album the melody and hooks are huge.
Side 4 is bonus material with a demo of Cry, the very heavy Hand On Heart which is awesome, and Sundance which is a latin acoustic romp. The band would fold after this and Khan would jump to Kamelot, and Ostby would start up the short loved Ark with John Lande. Superb album!
10/10 from The Grooveman.
