a l b u m r e v i e w s


DEPARTURE / OPEN YOUR MIND
LABEL: ESCAPE MUSIC
OVERALL: 89%
Produced by: Mike Walsh
  1. Cry For Freedom
  2. Believer
  3. You Are Mine
  4. 100 Midnight
  5. Hard To Say No
  6. Walk Away
  7. Fair Warning
  8. Destiny
  9. Prayers
  10. Hurt Sometimes
  11. I Don't Need Love
  12. Where I Belong (Japan Only)
It took me a few listens to get my head around the new Departure album. But thereafter, this album becomes quite essential.
The guys have completely outdone their debut album, with clearly better songs, a tighter production and better sound all round.
The guys head the list of new pomp/prog/aor acts like Shotgun Symphony and The Promise.
Their sound mixes influences of past pomp-sters Kansas, Yes, Styx and Rush with the more modern progressive and pomp bands such as Dream Theater.
There is a big 70s influence over their sound and lead vocalist Dave Baldwin has a distinct Geddy Lee / James LaBrie feel to his vocals.
On Fair Warning you can hear what I mean, while Hard To Say No is the most Rush like tune.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a really solid album. Tracks like Destiny just highlight how far they have come since the debut.
The sound is tougher than that album and the over the top keyboard influence has been toned down a little.
PRODUCTION: %SONGS: %VIBE: %ATTITUDE: %
ESSENTIAL FOR: Departure fans, progressive and pomp rock fans. Some Rush, Yes, Dream Theater fans.
DISCOGRAPHY:Departure . Open Your Mind

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