BOB SALIBA – Hosts Of A Vanished World (2024) *HQ*
French musician BOB SALIBA is one of those players / songwriters who is hugely active in Melodic, Power and Prog Metal circles in Europe whom most people have not come across directly. Melodic metallers KingCrown remains his main ‘day job’, but he’s a contributor to a whole bunch of other projects both as a performer, composer or producer.
In all capacities, he has shared stages and studios with a huge variety of names you will have heard of, which is why he’s managed to get so many of them to contribute to this project, Bob’s new album “Hosts Of A Vanished World” which is being released today.
We find powerhouse drummer John Macaluso (ex-YngwieMalmsteen, Ark) performing on all tracks, Roland Grapow (Masterplan ex-Helloween) contributing guitar, Ricky Marx (Now or Never, ex Pretty Maids), bassist Alessandro Lotta (ex- Rhapsody), and more.
Musically this is a Light Progressive / Melodic Hard Rock concept piece, and melds the styles seamlessly as the story’s protagonist, a palaeontologist conceptually wondering about life forms long gone, and perhaps hinting that we are about to join them.
Bob is first and foremost an incredibly accomplished musician, and one of those people who seems to be able to play any instrument he is handed, but since his background is also as an engineer in biotechnology, this really does fuse both sides of his life.
Progressive arrangements can be tricky on the ear and too easily can be lulled into the realms that only the deep-rooted genre fan or other musos can appreciate, but while being varied and complex the writing and arrangements here remain accessible to the more casual listener.
The biggest surprise of all though comes with the vocals. Bob’s voice here are very strong, with confidence, presence and range that aligns incredibly well with the smorgasbord of styles and sounds the album throws at the listener.
I don’t think Bob has any plans to tour this, but to be fair this is very much one of those albums that needs to be appreciated in its entirety and which gives up its layers with repeated listens. I always struggle to find the time to unpick the stories of these long concept pieces in the limited time windows reviewing allows, but even just at the musical level this is a rich beast that keeps on giving.
A melodic, always interesting album.
Highly Recommended
01. Introspection
02. Excavations
03. Visions
04. Crystal Castle
05. Entropy
06. Expectations
07. Transposition
08. Into the Lab
09. Reflections
10. Rivality
11. Saphire (Instrumental)
12. To The Zenith
13. Hosts of a Vanished World
Bob Saliba – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Percussion
Bruno Pradels – Bass
Tom Abrigan – Rhythm & Lead Guitars
John Macaluso – Drums & Percussions
Guests:
Roland Grapow – guitar solo
Ricky Marx – guitar solo
Alessandro Lotta – bass
Jo Amore – lead vocals
Roberto Billi – flute
BUY
www.ftf-music.com/de/bobsaliba/bobsaliba.htm
