Ian Parry – best known for his work with the likes of Elegy and the remarkable five-album spanning Consortium Project has been around the scene for around four decades and possesses not only a fine, fine voice but also an ongoing ability to write excellent classic/hard/proggy/neo-classical rock songs.
Now he’s back with a second helping of his Rock Emporium albums – Brute Force – coming some five years or so from the debut, Society of Friends.
On Brute Force Ian has not only put together a fine core band but also called on many of that Society of Friends to pitch in. For example the phenomenal Patrick Rondat, Timo Somers, Barend Courbois and Martin Helmantel to name but four.
As I mentioned, the core band is on fire. Especially guitarist Luca Sellitto. A spectacular performance with his shredding all the way up to eleven. Must admit I’d not heard of him before. On further investigation I discovered he has a solo album (The Voice Within) and I’ll be ordering that after posting this…..
Back to Brute Force. It’s another winner from Ian. Overall it has a harder edge to Society of Friends with Ian in his usual way building in some great melodies which suit his powerful voice very well.
The opener – In Isolation – demonstrating that all too well. A bit of a short symphonic intro gives way to a battering ram of a song. Punchy riff, Sellitto setting the fretboard on fire with the soloing, solid as a rock rhythm section and Ian singing up a storm. Have a listen:
Darkest Secrets is written by Sellitto and is a superb showcase for his guitar talents. Close your eyes and you’ll think it’s Yngwie at his 1980s peak. Till the Day I Die being not dissimilar.
The title track is typical Parry. Melodic metal with that proggy edge and it’s on this track which Patrick Rondat surfaces to put in excellent guitar work.
Lethal Injection storms along as it deals with something personal to Ian as does Rings of Fire on which he brings in Timo Somers and Barend Courbois. Great stuff.
Along the way there are also some “funky” parts to mix it up and a couple of ballads before closing with a spirited cover of Queen’s One Vision.
With the second helping of his Rock Emporium on Brute Force, Ian yet again puts in a storming show aided and abetted by that Society of Friends. Proper hard/classic sounding rock with that proggy/symphonic/neo-classical edge. When do we get RE III Ian?