SUPERNAL ENDGAME - review added 22nd April 2010
Album Review: Touch The Sky (2010)
For fans of: Prog Rock... and very religious themes
Supernal Endgame officially began its life just after the turn of the century, although the roots of the band stretch back a few decades. John Eargle and Rob Price have played in several bands together over the years including Pariah and Harbinger. In fact, in Harbinger, they first played with Dan Pomeroy; the 3rd member of this triplet.
Touch The Sky is the first full release from the band, and is described as "Volume 1", suggesting more may be on the way (indeed, Volume 2 is already planned). The line-up sees John Eargle on guitars, bass, keys, and backing vocals, Rob Price on lead vocals and drums, and Dan Pomeroy primarily on guitars. The guys were joined by special guests Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Transatlantic) and Randy George (Ajalon, The Neal Morse Band), plus Tom More, Dan Henderson, Brad "Baby" Bibbs, Tony Narvarte, Katie Price, Mike Musal and Randy Lyle.
The result is an album filled with progressive meanderings and overtly religious themes. If you don't like music with leanings towards Kansas, Yes and early Genesis, or can't abide God-biased lyrics, Touch The Sky really won't be for you. The sound is light and airy with a definite bent towards summer-love and feel-good progressions. It's all very friendly, in fact it's almost too nice for its own good.
The musicianship does a fine job of mashing up retro rock nuances and funky folk with a more modern production. The guys are clearly reasonably skilled on their respective instruments. However, I'm not so keen on the singing. For me Rob Price, who comes across like a cross between Steve Newman and Elvis Costello, is too gnarly for the album. Where the playing and composition are bordering on the sickly-sweet, he sounds like he should be banging out power metal. Some of the multi-layering is badly produced too - and that's a shame.
Overall, Touch The Sky is an okay release. There are likeable moments throughout but they never join together into one amazing song. The most beautiful part of the whole album is the piano-led intro to the first track. If Supernal Endgame could sound a lot more like that next time - more piano led and traditionally beautiful - and if they could tweak the line-up by introducing a more melodious vocalist, they could go places.
Check out... That piano intro. Very nice.
Track List:
01. Everlasting Fanfare (Pt. 1)
02. Still Believe
03. Psalm 51
04. Disclosure
05. Fall To My Knees
06. Expressions
07. Loving Embrace
08. Grail
09. In Your Hands
10. Gossamer Strings
11. You Reached Down
12. At Play In The Fields
13. Perfect Grace
14. Everlasting Fanfare (Pt. 2)
Label: Prog Rock Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
