Forbidden Myth is a spectacular epic in the style of all that made 1970s prog rock so good though with an uplifting modern feel to it. What makes it somewhat unique is that there is no guitar or bass.
Instead the ensemble cast of nine vocalists is accompanied by an array of keyboardists playing all sorts of piano, good old Hammond organ and synths and a drummer.
The guitars are not missed. The way the keys and synths are used in the composition more than make up for it. The Hammond riffs in particular are hard and crunchy. And the synth runs are dazzling – think of them as guitar solos if you will.
The whole album is so well done aided by the twist of no guitar. A proper throw-back of an old fashioned proggy concept album brought up to date.
The concept continues the story and the myth of the world of Zantea with The Nightmare |Awakens being the follow-up to The Dream Dominator. I have to thank Antonis Adelfidis for contacting me about the project.
Musically, The Nightmare Awakens does live up to the prog rock epic. The use of the Hammonds has a nice attack about them with the crunchy riffs and washes being reminiscent of say John Lord and Ken Hensley.
The synth work also is a constant highlight adding both atmosphere and mazy runs to compliment the driving Hammonds.
Add in the piano and it all makes for an immersive and engaging mixture of heavy, progressive symphonic rock.
The ensemble cast of vocalists each playing different characters more than do their bit too. All spot on adding a lot of melodic elements.
The Overture of Rage starts things off nicely with the piano intro building in to a gentleish ambient opener.
Then things take off with the excellent The Petrified Forest. This is where the driving organ riffs come in along with a memorably infectious hook and sweeping vocals. Check it out:
The Puppet features some of that dazzling synth work as does The Screaming Paradise. Quite spectacular.
The Sword of Doom another highlight in an album full of them. Nice and heavily symphonic with a remarkable synth solo.
And so it goes over the entire seventy minutes or so. That combination of punchy organ riffs, spectacular synth bursts and soaring vocals held together by solid and steady drumming.
Who needs a guitar? Forbidden Myth don’t and it doesn’t matter. With The Nightmare Awakens they have a most fine and enjoyable album of retro-modern symphonic progressive rock.
Perhaps we’ll get a third part to continue the concept and more about Zantea. Until then, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
The Nightmare Awakens is available from the Forbidden Myth BandCamp page:
https://antonisadelfidis.bandcamp.com/album/zantea-chronicles-the-nightmare-awakens
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