The Android Messiah is the debut album by the Chronomaster Project. An excellent progressive metal concept album with an ensemble cast of contributors based around a science fiction story.
The concept isn’t entirely original. Universe invaded, on its last legs, the Chromomaster is created as a “new generation sentient android and sent out in to the universe to track down the invaders home world and sort it out.
The story unfolds musically over the album in fine style. Bombastic progressive/symphonic rock with the core band assisted by the likes of Mark Boals, Mike Mills, Amanda Somerville, Marcela Bovio and others playing their characters with a gusto to match.
It’s not unlike something Arjen Lucassen and his Ayreon albums or perhaps Tobias Sammet and Avantasia.
Big production, big sound, blazing guitars interacting with the keys and synths and monster vocals from the guests to bring extra bite to proceedings.
It’s everything an album like this should be. Plenty of melody and some soulful stuff in amongst the bombast – particulary the contributions from Somerville as the Captain and Bovio as Mother Universe. Been a big fan of them for years and they do not disappoint.
Indeed – nothing on the album disappoints.
Mark Boals puts in a fine vocal stint on The Mission – which is the scene-setter to the tale. After an atmospheric/piano based intro in develops in to fine progressive/melodic rocker with some emotional lyrics by Douglas Docker as the Chronomaster’s father sends his creation on its way in to the universe.
Have a listen:
The rest of the album is heavy, progressive and sometimes rather gentle to fit the storyline. Overall it’s so well-conceived, composed and performed. And it avoids being cheesy – which things like this can often lapse in to.
None of that here with the Chronomaster Project. The Andriod Messiah being first class progressive/symphonic metal with attitude and feeling.
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