Overworld Dreams – Gateway
In search of follow ups to the wonderful year of music I experienced in 2019, I was searching CDBaby.com and found Overworld Dreams. The cover art was astounding. Then I found out the artwork was created by Ed Unitsky and I knew I had to contact this band and ask for a review copy of their newly released, December 2019 album, Gateway.
Well, the music lived up to the cover art Ed had envisioned and created in so many ways. This is an excellent album; and knowing now that Otherworld Dreams has at least two more releases contemplated for 2020, they are definitely on my watch list of bands for 2020.
Overworld Dreams debut album was Voyage, which was released in September 25th of 2018. It was well received by critics and fans. This New Jersey based prog outfit is loaded with talent. Matt Maugeri, handles the lead vocals and guitars; Ken Walker, plays the otherworldly keyboards, and sings backing vocals; Randy Sandmann plays lead guitars; Chris Parsons, plays bass, guitars, keyboards, and handles drum programming; and Elizabeth Holder, sings vocals and plays keyboards.
Every track on this album is full of powerful classic progressive rock with a Neo Prog twist. The album kicks off with “Between the Scenes”, which features Walkers opening keyboards and Parsons’ bass. The rest of the band joins in with guitars and drum programming to provide a cool Rush – like opening. Maugeri’s lead vocals are closer to Saga’s Michael Sadler, but I can understand why everyone else compares him to Jon Anderson’s higher pitch. Elizabeth Holder’s backing vocals help lift the pitch higher. The keys sound a little more like early Saga than Genesis, to my ears. But there is nothing wrong with that at all. The guitar work follows Rush a little closer, which is a nice combination. Like hearing the two Canadian powerhouses at the same time. Since both of those Canadian powerhouses might be done recording, Overworld Dreams might be the perfect place to turn for the future. Off to a great start.
The beautiful guitar work on “Gateway to the Garden”, is almost worth the price of admission alone. Well structured and emotionally pleasing. The flute like tones only add to the power of this track. Elizabeth Holder sings lead vocals on this track and does a wonderful job laying out the lyrical storyline. The wandering journey sound of the music is just what the doctor ordered for the new year. One of the best tracks on the album.
“Puppeteer” is a real turn away from the first two tracks on the album. It is a deep dive into heavy metal guitar, pounding drums and bass, before it veers off into a cool keyboard romp, circa Clive Nolan or maybe Rick Wakeman. Not as stellar, but definitely attempting to reach those heights. Maugeri’s lead vocals bring back more memories of late career Michael Sadler Saga sounds. The lead guitar work is clean and perfect sounding. Another of the album’s best tracks.
“Timelords 13” is rock fusion guitarist Shawn Christie’s showcase. The keyboard work is big and bold and conjures memories of the power Arjen Lucasson unleashes on his metal sci-fi experiences. The pairing of Maugeri and Holder works wonders vocally on this track. They close the song with their interpretation of the “Dr. Who”, theme. It is one of the best moments of the early new year; and this album!
“Truth and Lies”, opens with cool keys and effects. Those overwhelming big dark keys take you right back to Arena’s “Visitor” or “Contagion”. So bold you do not want it to end.
Maugeri’s vocals really start taking me back to mid-career Saga on “The Poet”. Maybe Wildest Dreams, if anyone besides me, even remembers that album. The lead electric guitar solos on this track are some of the best on the album. Just blistering.
Holder’s otherworldly vocals and those high-pitched keys really lift “Timelords 4”, into the over the world dreamland. The keyboards on this track make you absolutely appreciate the instrument. They return to their interpretation of the “Dr. Who”, theme, and another wide smile appears on this reviewer’s face.
“The Siren that Calmed the Sea”, is the epic closer at over 14 minutes. It is worth every minute and a wonderful gift for your purchase. When you start with rain and keys I am all ears. And, all in! Thunder and misty skies, with dark threatening keys…yah…you betcha! Very cool. A little like the feeling of hearing Images at Twilight, for the first time. The drum programming is great. But the waves of keys are just amazing. Let it pour deep dark keys. A keyboard lover’s over the world dream. Gigantic. Early/late keyboard song of the year nominee for sure. Not sure whether to consider this a true 2019 release or a 2020? This is otherworldly as well as over the world beautiful. Every moment gets better and better! Then deep, bold piano taking the place of synthesized keyboards. Orchestration at the halfway mark, to push the level of the music even higher.
Looks like 2020 is off to a wonderful musical start! Please get this album, and then get Voyage. Then prepare yourself for a new year full of Over the World Dreams!
Track List
- Between the Scenes – 4:37
- Gateway to the Garden – 4:26
- Puppeteer – 6:21
- Timelords 13 – 7:45
- Truth and Lies – 1:45
- The Poet – 4:32
- Timelords 4 – 8:22
- The Siren that Calmed the Sea – 14:15
https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/OverworldDreams
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/overworld-dreams/gateway/
I bought the digital downloads. Love that 14+ minute instrumental track and the Dr. Who theme in Timelords! Thanks for the recommendation.