Label: AFL Music
It
is a beautiful thing this progressive rock, and what some artists are releasing
these days is amazing. The prog community is very special to this music fan.
When you get a chance to hear a project with a overabundance of artists joining
forces to record an album it is even more exciting and special.
So now we have RTFACT with their album Life Is Good. This band is fresh from their recording sessions and
ready to get this music out to the masses ASAP!
Life
Is Good is a boundless combination of prog and classic rock. One
of the great things about this album besides all of stellar musicianship, are
the vocals of Jeff Scott Soto. He is an outstanding vocalist and I believe
underrated by people in the music business. The people that really count, the
listeners, know who he is and his capabilities.
Nad Sylvan provides vocals as well and notably Oz Noy rips
off a few stellar guitar lines to polish and perfect the experience. So, what you get is a few of the more
recognizable names in the industry joining forces with names you may have been
ever exposed to. What does this tell me? There is a lot of unfound talent out
there to be discovered and am I ever glad I discovered this band. Thanks go out
to Yuri Volodarsky,of AFL
Music for making this opportunity possible.
These
players know how to have some fun as well. After the superb “(I Got) Money In
My Pocket” and “Hail To The Winner Part I” then comes the entertaining instrumental
“Hail To The Winner Part II Tarantella.” It starts off like a soundtrack to one
of the old 60s TV Shows like Mr. Ed for instance. Then it launches into a
full-on rock attack with scorching leads from the six-string. After that
workout a true to form prog rock approach is taken, with all the quick changes
that blow your mind on “Gotika.” Again, my interest peaked and I was compelled
to turn up the volume. It was like listening to ELP on steroids. This is prog rock at its very best as far as I
am concerned.
I think the description of the band on the Bandcamp website
paints the proper picture of what this music is with the following statement:
An
archaeological trove of musical nuggets, with soaring vocals, Hammond B3
wizardry, muscular guitar solos, and a supple rhythm section that grooves as
hard as it rocks.
It so true! Usually these statements are a blown out of
proportion, a gaggle of words, but in the case every bit of it is right as
rain. This is a great sound from start to finish with crankin’ guitar solos,
pumping organ and synth parts, and a killer rhythm section. It all comes
together to create a prog rock masterpiece. “Life Is Good (Remix)” calls it day
with a very Yes like sound and layered vocals. A fitting touch for the closer with
a wink and nod to an outstanding musical journey to prog nirvana.
Yes,
indeed Life Is Good thanks to prog
rock.
Tracks:
1. Life Is Good
2. Artifact
3. (I Got) Money In My Pocket
4. Hail To The Winner. Part I
5. Hail To The Winner. Part II. Tarantella
6. Gotika
7. The King, The Master, And The Timekeeper
8. Hollywood Walk Of Fame
9. Life Is Good (Remix)
Line
Up:
Jeff Scott Soto - vocals
Nad Sylvan - vocals
Will Champlin - vocals
Oz Noy - solo guitar
Jeff Kollman - solo guitar
Rafael Moreira - guitar
Josh Smith - guitar
Gary Meek - flute, sax
Edward Tsiselsky - keyboards
Dmitry Ilugdin - synthesizers
Eugene Sharikov - bass
Joel Taylor – drums
5/5
Stars
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
October 31, 2017
Founder of:
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk