Sanctus Ignis

by

Adagio

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Adagio was an experiment for me. I love it when my expectations are surpassed. Every song on this disc is really awesome. There may be an ever-so-slight Symphony X flavor, but Adagio is certainly unique. There is a very strong classical presence here, especially with the keys. Unlike most classical rockers, which tend to have the same drum beat in every song, Adagio maintains the ever changing element of Prog. Singer David Readman is awesome. His range and power is phenominal. I consider him one of the best singers in the genre. Stephan Forte is a world class musician, not just a great guitarist. His solos are tasty, yet display a measure of melodic restraint. The keys are very strong as well. The drums are also very strong. Again, not the typical constant doublebass that many power metal bands use. All the songs are great, but "Second Sight" really gets the album off to a good start is is the most solid song on the album. Buy this album, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Stephen Forte's Adagio project begins with this album. The liner notes for this album state that Forte relentlessly studied and practiced the style of Ynjwie Malmsteen, and the similarity is evident. The band bears some resemblence to the more well-known Symphony X, but there are some differences. Adagio incorporates far more classical/baroque passages in their songs. Often these will even be played with a piano or harpsichord (or a keyboard that is emulating the sound).

There is something missing from this band, and I have a bit of difficulty placing it. Perhaps it needs a stronger emotional connection. Or perhaps it is that the emotional feel throughout the album is fairly constant, and there isn't enough variety.

There are some great songs here and some great parts of songs. The Stringless Violin is probably the best song on the album, featuring some beautiful piano work, remarkable chorus melody, and Forte also plays with some soul (I hate when guitar players only shred).

The talent here is undeniable. Just in his mid-twenties, Forte demonstrates a level of technical skill on the guitar, combined with some knowledge of when to show restraint (which I am sure he will learn more about as he grows older), that places him in the same calibre of much more famous guitarists like Yngwie. The other musicians also show their stuff fairly well. The drumming stands out, as do the powerful, rich vocals.

I would give this album a rating of 7.2/10. I translate this to a 3-star rating here (Worth having in your collection, but it won't be something you listen to all that often).