Artist: Neverland
Title: Reversing Time
Type: Album
Label: AFM Records
The album cover for ‘Reversing Time’ sends out signals telling me that this is going to be something in the progressive-power vein, most likely with fantasy themed lyrics. A quick read of their bio sheet that arrived with this CD informs that Neverland is in fact a musical collaboration between the progressive metal outfit Dreamtone and a Greek singer by the name of Iris Mavraki. Having spent her career days performing with orchestras, this chanteuse doesn’t have the history that you might expect for a vocalist in a metal band, and this only adds to its appeal. Winding sequences of symphonic compositions wrap themselves around the core metal foundations that provide a solid backbone for such heavyweight vocalists as Hansi Kurch to build upon, adding his unmistakable vocals to the heavily symphonic ‘To Lose The Sun’, where a jagged romp of violins leads into a succession of drum bursts and crunchy guitars making this one of the highlights of the album.
The vocals of Iris Mavraki don’t take precedence until we arrive at the third track, ‘Mankind A Lie’ which to these ears could easily have been representing one of the Eastern European countries in the Eurovision Song Contest. A powerful wall of sound subsides as Iris’ vocals sweep up, pushing the music into the distance before a frenzied chaos arises with a piano leading in some lovely Middle Eastern melodies. There is a theatrical feel to her vocal delivery that has me imagining this as a musical performance, with ‘Everlasting Tranquillity’ being the moment where Iris takes the spotlight for a solo performance which has a strangely majestic feel and reminds me of the more gentile classical sounds of Haggard. Vocals on ‘Beyond These Walls’ are lent by Evergrey crooner Tom Englund, whose sorrow tinged vocal chords fit perfectly with the balladesque sensibility of the song. ‘Shooting Star’ has a chorus that has me thinking of Marillion, while ‘Transcending Miracle’ contains the unusual sounds of a church organ, before the track marches on, winding into a lead guitar passage.
‘Reversing Time’ is heavily melodic; an ideal soundtrack to those lazy Sunday mornings when that hangover just doesn’t want to shift. An inoffensive affair that is unlikely to have your guests clutching at their ears telling you to turn that rubbish off and yet with enough heaviness to make you want to bang your head. This isn’t the most outstanding prog-power metal release ever to grace my stereo, although it’s an intriguing listen worth checking out if you’re into the genre.
http://www.in-neverland.com/
Luci Herbert
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