Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Eloy

Destination

Review by Gary Hill

This is a reissue of a 1992 album from Eloy. This disc found the progressive rock side of the band a little further back in the mix. There was a lot of hard rocking sound that at times leaned toward heavy metal. Yet, prog was still in place. It's perhaps more along the arena rock side of the equation, though. While this might not be the most decidedly prog masterpiece from the band, it has plenty of strong music and still holds up well.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.

Track by Track Review
Call Of The Wild
A dramatic, yet understated introduction built on keyboards gets things going. Keyboards remain the central element as this continues to evolve. Around the minute-and-a-half mark a more rocking motif takes over. Vocals come in other the top to complete the picture as this drives forward. There are hints of heavy metal along with some Jethro Tull, mainly from the flute, Pink Floyd and more here.
Racing Shadows

I really love the punchy sound of the bass on this track. It's another hard rocker, but it still has enough prog in play to keep it interesting. The piano showcase and electronic sounds late really bring that prog thing home to play.

Destination
The title track comes in with a keyboard dominated arrangement. It builds out from there into more of a mainstream rocker. There is an AOR prog vibe at play here. In some ways this is proggier than the two tracks that preceded it. It's a melodic piece. The flute solo section begs comparisons to Jethro Tull.
Prisoner In Mind

This really has some progressive metal vibes as it drives forward. It's a big change and also a highlight of the set. While it's perhaps not completely progressive rock, there are plenty of prog elements at play.

Silent Revolution

Another driving, hard-edged cut, the keyboards bring quite a bit of prog to the game here. This also has some of the most decidedly proggy jamming  of the disc. This has some cool twists and turns. Children's chorale vocals are a nice touch, and the keys really bring a lot of prog.

Fire And Ice

More driving rock is on the menu. This has some cool keyboard angles, and a mellower break later provides more melodic prog. The guitar solo on this manages to convey both passion and power, while still remaining on the melodic, but crunchy, side of things.

Eclipse Of Mankind

I really love the bass sound on this. The cut has a sound that is not far removed from 90125-era Yes.

Jeanne d'Arc
The prog vibes really take over on this thing. It has some killer twists and turns. Chorale vocals are all over this thing. This gets very dramatic. It has a lot of classical style built into it. While not quite the longest track here, there is definitely an epic feeling and structure to this track. Not only that, but this is the most blatantly progressive rock based thing here. It's also my favorite piece of the whole album.
 
Return
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com