Octane [Enhanced]

Octane [Enhanced]

Track Listings

1. The Ballet Of The Impact

2. I Wouldn't Let It Go

3. Surfing Down The Avalanche

4. She Is Everything

5. Climbing Up That Hill

6. Letting Go

7. Of The Beauty Of It All

8. NWC

9. There Was A Time

10. The Planet's Hum

11. Watching The Tide

12. As Long As We Ride

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The second album of the post-Neal Morse era finds Spock's Beard settling into its more focused (if less openly adventurous) framework with increasing confidence. While there's no denying the irony that these champions of modern progressive rock sometimes find themselves locked into a retro-prog groove here, it's offset by an ever-ambitious sense of scale. "Flash Before My Eyes," the seven-part suite that dominates the album, reviews the life of its protagonist just as he's about to be struck down by a runaway truck. Anchored by a melodic motif reminiscent of Howard Shore's stately themes for Lord of the Rings and propelled by drummer Nick D'Virgillio's expressive voice, it gracefully soars beyond some awkward lyrical moments into the inviting psych-pop realm of Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Elsewhere, the instrumental "NWC" fuses the aura of early Genesis with bursts of Alan Morse's solo guitar, while "There Was a Time" turns on familiar, harmony-rich metal-ballad conceits. "Watching the Tide" is a cut above, a Queen-centric slice of drama that showcases the D'Virgillio's supple vocal range. Also available in a deluxe edition that includes a bonus disc with outtakes and a "making of" featurette. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Octane is the 8th release from Spock’s Beard, the undisputed heavyweight champions of the new progressive rock movement; it also marks the second release by Spock’s Beard on Inside Out Music America as well as their second release after the departure of former lead-vocalist and founding member, Neal Morse.

Octane (as with Feel Euphoria) continues to show an evolution and marked growth in the Spock’s Beard sound. Still present are the trademark melodies, lush vocal harmonies and instrumental ferocity that elevated Spock’s Beard to the top rung of the progressive rock ladder. However, Octane sports a more aggressive and heavier sound. There is a new power and immediacy to their music which should help the band to further blur the lines which separate musical genres and cross Spock’s Beard over to new fans while also satisfying the expectations of their longtime followers.

Octane,Spock's Beard,Inside Out U.S.,Neo-Prog,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Rock Music

Octane [Enhanced]

Rock Music: