V.O.Z. (2012)
V.O.Z. is a large scale 2-CD project by Magnificent, a rock band led by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Hamel. V.O.Z. crosses various rock music boundaries, ranging from progressive rock to heavy metal. We normally don’t review heavy metal and its offspring progressive metal so the focus of the review will be on the more progressive cuts.
Disc 1 opens with ‘In Memory of…’ a symphonic keyboard piece that has connections with the orchestral side of Vangelis. The next piece, ‘VOZ I – New World,’ shifts gears. It’s a great symphonic progressive rock composition with outstanding guitar and keyboard work.
‘VOZ II – Crossing Meridian’ begins with acoustic guitars and a folk-rock format that gradually gets louder until it regresses into repetitive heavy metal. Brutal heavy metal characterizes ‘VOZ III – Approaching Storm.’
‘VOZ IV – Milestone’ threatens to bring heavy metal back, but the riffs don’t last very long and turns out to be quite good, with memorable creative guitar work.
‘VOZ V – Whispers’ begins like a rock ballad and develops into a great instrumental section where Hamel creates fascinating interaction between keyboards and guitar.
The most experimental (and one of the best) pieces is ‘VOZ VI – Freefall,’ where we find eerie atmospheres, symphonic parts with Le Orme-style organ and delightful Floydian guitars and keyboards.
‘VOZ VII – Darkened Worlds’ mixes acoustic guitars with wondrous synth atmospheres and spacey synth and guitar solos.
On ‘VOZ VIII – Rise to the Surface,’ the music begins electronic and morphs into a mix of tasty progressive rock and classic rock.
Symphonic keyboard music returns on ‘VOZ IX – Skies Clear.’
The last cut, ‘VOZ X – Voyage Ends,’ is another heavy metal fest.
Disc 2 begins with a brief neoclassical instrumental titled ‘Zosimos Sleeps.’ Next comes ‘Becoming,’ a heavy metal piece.
Things get more interesting on ‘Spirits Dwell,’ where there is a superb combination of guitars and symphonic keyboards with dreamy, spacey and jazzy sections.
The best vocal work appears on ‘Around the Sun’ in the form of well-crafted harmonies that give way to lush keyboards and bluesy guitars.
The next piece, ‘Hyperbole,’ has fabulous guitar work. However, it’s spoiled by the heavy metal riffs.
‘Becoming (Reprise)’ retakes the earlier theme minus the metal and injecting more jazz.
Heavy metal track ‘Red Skies’ closes the album.
The lineup on V.O.Z. includes Jeff Hamel on guitar and keyboards, Mike Kosacek on drums (who does an outstanding job) and vocalists David Cagle, Tara Morgan, Chris Hodges, and Celine Derval.
Buy V.O.Z.