Detailed Reviews [Metamorphosis - 2003 - "After All These Years"]

Metamorphosis (Switzerland) - 2003 - "After All These Years"
(65 min, 'Metamorphosis' / Galileo)

Prolusion. As you can see above, the line-up on this album consists of the representatives of French, Italian, German, Slovenian, and English nations and, thus, is completely international, even though all three of Metamorphosis's main men are the citizens of Switzerland. Indeed, this country is the most amazing international state formation in Europe.

Synopsis. The 65-minute "After All These Years" features nine tracks, the shortest of which: Sanctuary (3) is the only instrumental piece here. The music presented on it and most of the core songs on the album: Didn't We Know, No One's Home, Another Day, and Not Far From Heaven (4, 6, 7, & 8) represents a purely symphonic coalition of Classic Art- and Space Rock. All of the other songs here: the title track of the album, New Lords, Eyes on the Clock, and Moonbeams on the Wall (1, 2, 5, & 9) are of the same stylistics overall, though there also are the elements of Space Metal. Even though there are some traces of influences of Pink Floyd (think "Animals" and "Wish You Were Here") and Eloy (think "Colours") on a few of the tracks on "After All These Years", this is quite an original album on the whole. What's central however, this is a strong and very tasteful album and is a genuine child of inspiration. Done in the best traditions of the genre, all of the songs here are rich in purely instrumental arrangements and are filled with a mysterious atmosphere. Like Stuart Bell from Xitizen Cain, the main mastermind behind Metamorphosis, Jean-Pierre Schenk, plays masterfully both of the keyboards and (acoustic!) drums, and although his pronunciation of English isn't fantastic, it doesn't prevent me from liking his vocals in general. The main soloing instruments on the album are varied synthesizers, electric and semi-acoustic guitars, and bass. The parts of piano are present on Didn't We Know and Another Day, the first of which contains an episode featuring the amazingly impressive interplay between piano and synthesizer, and those of flute on New Lords.

Conclusion. Despite the fact that I heard dozens of the various Space Rock and related albums for the last few years, I was missing a classic Symphonic Space Rock sound. So after all of these years, I experience a great pleasure while listening to "After All These Years", which, by the way, is a truly nostalgic album.

VM: April 30, 2003