Released by: Nightmare Records
Release Date: November 11th, 2011
Genre: Progressive Power Metal
Links: https://www.nightmarerecords.com/
Line Up:
Jacob Hansen (Beyond Twilight, Invocator & Anubis Gate), Kim Olesen (Anubis Gate), Michael Harris (Darkology, Thought Chamber), Tore St Moren (Jorn), Fred Colombo (Spheric Universe Experience), Markus Sigfridsson (Darkwater / Harmony), Kevin Codfert (Adagio), Michael Hansen & Shane Dhiman (Phonomik), Morten Gade Sørensen (Pyramaze, Wuthering Heights), Elyes Bouchoucha, Malek Ben Arbia, Anis Jouini (Myrath) & Mistheria (Bruce Dickinson and MANY others).
Tracklist:
111. A Sense of Urgency
222. Awakening
333. Manifest Destiny
444. A Given Choice
555. A Moment in Chiros
666. Dance of Power
777. Kibou
888. Infinity Divine
999. Joy Everlasting
10:10 Sacred Systems
11:11 Transformation
A concept album based on the phenomena 1111 is the latest and first solo album from Lance King, the former Avian, Balance of Power and Pyramaze singer. It was about damn time that Lance released some new stuff, I have been left craving some more high end soaring vocals courtesy of the man with the golden touch for a while since he’s collaboration with Pyramaze. Time is an essence because King is also the founder of the metal label Nightmare Records and a big guy in the scene promoting new hot acts for some time now, so this project had to be done in a considerable short time.
This new super and ambitious project has been labeled as “Etheric Progressive Power Metal “, call it what you will as the concept itself is of this weird happening all over the world. The most haunting thing here is the great group of musicians that Lance has been able to scoop up to help along the way. Recorded and mixed in three months time, King was able to gather such names as Jacob Hansen (Beyond Twilight, Invocator & Anubis Gate), Kim Olesen (Anubis Gate), Michael Harris (Darkology, Thought Chamber), Tore St Moren (Jorn), Fred Colombo (Spheric Universe Experience), Markus Sigfridsson (Darkwater / Harmony), and many others just to name a few.
Lance has been in the scene for over 20 years singing on many underground bands and along the way establishing his presence as a tremendous vocalist, so anytime we get something new from him I get excited about. I am not too keen on the whole 1111 concept, I know some feel that it has more of a meaning then others do, something to do with the universe secret way of telling possible events ahead of time. Of course all of this is up for debate, what I was most looking forward to hearing is this project which is supposed to be based around one man’s journey as a seeker of truth looking for answers to the world’s greatest mysteries.
Sounds intriguing but let’s judge the music here shall we? I’m not quite sure what this all means and how the lyrics concise with each track as they are label as 111, 222, 333 and so on, maybe a synchronicity thing? Regardless the songs here are all flowing with passion and progressive touch of madness with it’s many contributors. Such high riser tunes here regurgitate with “Infinity Divine” and in contrast to the more soft ballad type of “Kibou”, which means hope in Japanese. The last track “1111 Transformation” sorta tides everything together with enough twists and turns in it’s guitar lead rhythm that will make you salivate at the immensity of this record. One of the strongest tunes here comes earlier in the album via the speedy cruncher of “Awakening”, featuring some heavenly layering background vocals alongside some sparked guitar riffage.
There is way too much to digest just on a few spins on this immense project, I am sure that I missed probably more then half of the meanings of each song and it’s little idiosyncrasies, but hey it’s never easy to digest progressive metal let alone something tackling the secrets of the universe okay, so cut me some slack. The music for me was very detailed and nested in a way that was varied, transcendence and experimental at the same time. Perhaps is the mix of all of the guest musicians involved what makes “A Moment in Chiros” a work of undiluted art. Lance King carries his vocal pipes as he usually does, with pristine precision and charismatic projection. I give it a big nod for the balls it takes to tackle a new concept, something experimental as much as it is accessible, so for that Lance surpasses some expectations. Obviously the material is not as catchy as some of his previous works in other bands, but this could be label masterpiece by it’s mere standard of the subject matter and the colossal of guests involved in this record alone. I’ll leave you the listener the chance to judge this one on your own. All I can say is check it out because it simply has to be experienced to be understood and interpreted.
Written by Denys
Ratings Denys 9/10
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