Progressive Metal Reviews


Upon Deaf Ears
MERCURY RISING



Mercury Rising is : Clarence Osborne on vocals
Hal Dolliver on Guitars
Gary Goldsmith on Guitars
Chris Brush on Bass
Jeff Moos on Drums
Additional Musicians : Jim Rezek on Keyboards

The tracks are :
1. Upon Deaf Ears (6:11)
2. Light To Grow (6:43)
3. Halfway To Forever (4:02)
4. Minute Man (6:07)
5. Zeros And Ones (6:59)
6. It's War (5:25)
7. Prayer (3:26)
8. Where Fear Ends (9:14)


Upon Deaf Ears starts with the title track, an excellent track which starts with some excellent guitar. The drum sound is solid and there's some great bass line. Great vocals from Clarence. Clarence has a good vocal range and is quite powerful when needed. There's some quite heavy guitar in places and excellent solo's from Hal & Gary too, but there's quite a strong melody that is maintained throughout the track. Nice changes in tempo, mood and direction.

The next track is 'Light To Grow', starting with a heavy bass synth sound and soaring keyboards, before the whole band comes in. The two guitarist Hal & Gary work extremely well together sometimes playing two different riffs or playing the same. Overall, though, it comes over superbly. Good solid drum sound and great bass. Clarence's vocals are excellent and there's many changes in direction, tempo and mood.

Track three is 'Halfway To Forever', this track hasn't the same melodic quality of the previous two, nevertheless it's still a good track. The guitar work is superb and sometimes at breathtaking speed. The drums once again has a good solid sound to them. The vocals are good, but when the band are playing at an extremely fast pace, Clarence tries to sing in a high pitched voice and for me, doesn't quite come off.

The next track is 'Minute Man', an excellent track starting with some great guitar, great vocals. Nice changes in mood, direction and tempo. Excellent guitar solo's.

'Zero's And One's', starts with the sound of a heartbeat, then ther'es some keyboard and guitar sound and a baby crying before the band come in like a thunder bolt. Fast, Heavy, great guitar riffs, excellent vocals once again from Clarence. Good solid drums and excellent bass. Nice changes in direction and tempo within the track and once again excellent solo's from Hal & Gary.

Track six is 'It's War', which starts with great bass and drums before the heavy guitar riffs come in. Great vocals and nice changes in direction, mood and tempo. Great solo's and a great end sequence where the muisc gradually slows dowm and fades to sounds of explosions.

The next track is 'Prayer', a quieter track with just an acoustic guitar and Clarence's Vocals. Nice keyboards towards the end of the track.

The final track is 'Where Fear Ends', another excellent track with some great vocals. Great melody with some nice changes in tempo, mood and direction. Superb guitar and excellent solo's.

Well, I think this is a superb album, the sound quality and musicianship is superb. The combination of the two guitarists is a joy to listen too and this is an album for all metal fans.
Go out and buy!!!!!!


Released by Dominion Records, P.O. Box 70. Skillman, NJ 08558. USA
Website : http://DominionRecords.com