The most AMAZING independent prog metal release of 1999!
The Ever Present Matt | Brunswick, OH USA | 11/09/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WOW! All I can say is I was absolutely floored by this album and that hasn't happened to me since my first listen to Dream Theater's Images & Words album several years back! This album actually gave me chills, it's so phenomenal. With a sound like this, I can assure you that this band will not remain unsigned for very long. "Brilliant Pools of Darkness" is easily the best prog album of 1999 (and possibly this decade) in my book. Combining the melodic elements of Dream Theater with the atmospheric sound of Ocean Machine and spicing it with just enough of a thrash element to not deter from the prog structure, Chiaroscuro have woven an absolute masterpiece that have thrust them into the progressive music scene as a force to be reckoned with. These guys are the "next big thing" in prog if I've ever heard it, finally proving that there is a band out there truly worthy of comparison to the modern progressive juggernaut that is Dream Theater. Ian Dorsch is one of the most phenomenal vocalists I have ever heard. I would describe his vocal stylings as a perfect hybrid of Geoff Tate and James LaBrie. Dorsch delivers one of the most mind-blowing vocal performances in recent history throughout this album and even during his best moments, comes off much of the time as though he isn't really even trying that hard. Musically, Chiaroscuro follow the classic Dream Theater style, ranging from shred to melodic, dreamy, mid-tempo ballads. The main difference is a slightly heavier infusion of the thrash element on some songs and much more of an atmospheric keyboard element on others. I have to include that the bass playing on this album is pretty fantastic and really keeps the groove of each song alive. The instrumental portion in the middle of album opener "Broken Everything" immediately brought to mind the melodic splendor of Ocean Machine, while "Crucifixion" is sure to appease fans of both thrash and melody alike. Other album highlights include the hypnotic "Divinity," a highly atmospheric track that truly showcases the amazing vocal talents of Dorsch, and "Waiting," which begins with furious thrash and transforms into a melodic Dream Theater-esque ballad along the lines of "Lifting Shadows Off A Dream." "No Need" and "Children's Crusade" are also prime examples of the band's talent for melodically setting a surreal mood for a song. The single negative thing that I could possibly come up with in regard to this album is that the production quality is not that great and the drums sound quite dull for much of the album, but this is understandable. Being self-financed and self-produced, the quality is actually better than I would have expected, but I would certainly love to see these guys get signed and re-record this album with a higher budget. This album is a 5+++ all around. If there were a higher rating, I'd give it. If you're a fan of progressive metal and love Dream Theater, your collection is forever incomplete without this phenomenal masterpiece."
