Label: Cleopatra
Imagery, the Brazilian progressive band, was formed in 2008, but all members of the band have had experience within the Brazilian rock/metal scene for several years prior to coming together. The debut album, The Inner Journey, is a journey through the world of progressive metal/rock, played by extremely skilled musicians. The band list their influences as ranging from The Beatles through to Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Rush, ELP, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater and more.
Imagery is a four piece band currently comprising, Joceir Bertoni (vocals, guitars), Ricardo Fanucchi (bass), Henrique Loureiro (keyboards) and Bruno Pamplona (vocals, drums). Joceir and Ricardo have played together for ten years and they were then joined by Henrique and Luciano Neves (drums) to record the album. Since that recording, Bruno has replaced Luciano on the drum stool.
The Inner Journey is an 8 track album, with a total playing time of around 43 minutes. The shortest track on the album is “Show Me” with a running time of 3:37 minutes and the final track, aptly named “Last,” is the longest, at just over 8 minutes (8:12).
“Fourth Secret” (4:50) is a powerful heavy instrumental slab of progressive music, rich in melodies, and the band are quickly into their stride and the track fairly motors along. The amazing keyboard work, coupled with the guitar riffs and the very solid rhythm engine ensures that the listener is soon sucked into the music. Opportunities arise to allow the keyboards, guitar and the piano to take a shot at center stage, and almost before the listener has realized it, “Fourth Secret” has morphed into “Imagery,” the next track. “Imagery” (5:57) continues the heavy onslaught and I found it to be very reminiscent of Thin Lizzy in the early stages, but soon the track changes tack, and tempo, into a superbly structured melodic track. This slows down to walking pace, letting the superb piano and measured guitar melody dance across the rhythm and carry the track along. The vocals, which appeared at the start were initially of the “heavy rock” style, but are almost laid back when they reappear around the 5 minute mark.
“Perception” (6:13), harks back to the style of the opening track, with exquisite piano from time to time, “Start The War” (4:01), “The Rain” (5:46) and “Stranger” (4:43) continue the driving heavy style with more than a little swagger. A much lighter inclusion is that of track 6, “Show Me” (3:37) which is very gentle with acoustic guitars and a slower tempo, together with a vocal that is very easy on the ear, and immaculate drums and bass playing.
“Last” (8:12), is the album tour de force, and starts off with a memorable riff, terrific bass playing and those amazing organ passages and swirls. Clever time changes, excellent playing and a spoken vocal section, all add to the interest of the listener. The ending of the track “Last,” sees the band slowly fading out from around the 7 minute mark and that is it, all 43 minutes of an impressive debut album.
As a debut album, I find The Inner Journey to be very good, but my main concern, is that The Inner Journey doesn’t have that “je ne sais quoi” that makes it stand out from the pack. A fine introduction to the band, Imagery, with terrific snapshots of some majestic work, but lacking a little in the overall “wow, that’s a cracker” stakes, although enough is shown to want to hear where the musical evolution between debut and follow-up, will take the band.
4/5 Stars
Key Tracks: Fourth Secret, Imagery, Last
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson
January 30, 2014
Tracks:
Fourth Secret
Imagery
Perception
Start The war
The Rain
Show Me
Stranger
Last
