Short Reviews [Forbidden Myth - 2021 - "Zantea Chronicles. The Dream Dominator"]

Forbidden Myth is a band put together by keyboard player Antonis Adelfidis who is proud to state there are no guitars or bass guitars on this album, released in 2021, which is instead the product of Adelfis (acoustic & electric pianos, Hammond organ, combo organs, Mellotron, Hohner clavinet, digital & analogue synthesizers, Rheem Kee bass), George Katsanos (acoustic & electric pianos, combo organs, digital & analogue synthesizers, vibradoneon, theremin), pianist Nikos Aravanis and drummer The Swede along with eight singers who play the different roles in the world of Zantea, based on a story by Myrto Gregoriadi. Somehow, the Heavy Prog team on PA have decided that is the right genre for the band to be included, which seems somewhat strange given there are no guitars. Mind you, there is plenty of bass from the Rheem Kee Bass which was one of the first monophonic string bass emulators – it is only possible to play one note at a time, as if more than one note is played then only the highest one will be heard. I presume this is an emulator given there are so few of these instruments around, but it certainly does not sound as if it is 60 years old. There is quite a dated feel to the album, with plenty of Atomic Rooster influences, and if someone said this was from the Seventies that would be quite believable. It certainly never comes across as a mostly keyboard album, as many of the lines are being interwoven in a way which sounds much more like a band, and in some ways is somewhat reminiscent of Death Organ who released a couple of very enjoyable albums in the Nineties. What does let this down somewhat is the production and the quality of the vocals, as at the end of the day I listen for music for enjoyment not to recognise how clever it is. The Swede (whoever he is), is a fine drummer and he has an approach which often cuts through the layers to give real cut through, but I cannot help but wonder what would have happened if this had involved someone like Clive Nolan as in many ways it feels like one of his ensemble projects yet without that touch which takes it to the next level. It is certainly an impressive understanding, and at more than 100 minutes in length there is a lot here to take in with the classic story of good v evil. The booklet details not only the lyrics but who is singing and the plot behind the song, and I am not sure if this is included in the digital version but certainly adds to the understanding. It is quite an epic for a debut.