ADAGIO – Life (2017)

Seven long years have passed since ADAGIO‘s last album, and now rejuvenated with a fresh line-up they are ready to release “Life” next month.
In a peripheral sense, much has changed in Adagio’s world this time. The previous record from the French progressive / metal / classical outfit featured the vocals of Christian Palin, proving to be his sole outing with them.
“Life” is built around the commanding presence of Kelly ‘Sundown’ Carpenter, an American who once sang with them in Japan and had a touring spell with Firewind.

Fundamentally, though, their path remains focused. The album is dominated by sweeping orchestral arrangements, bedecked in the staccato riffs of founder, guitarist and guiding light Stéphan Forté.
The guitar solos especially are genuinely very impressive – in their near decade between albums Adagio clearly, haven’t let their ability slip. To its credit, the album also manages to fill songs that are nearly 8 minutes long without getting too repetitive or simply making the already lengthy instrumental sections even longer.

Two further new faces, drummer Jelly Cardarelli and violinist Mayline Gautié, add to the exceptional levels of musicianship. Life’s loose concept is an exploration of fear, joy, sorrow, love, pain and ecstasy and Adagio revel in its weightiness, the title track clocking in at more than nine minutes long.
New singer ‘Sundown’ Carpenter is a wonderful discovery and unless he should use them as a stepping stone, Adagio seem poised for a career upturn.

Alongside Adagio’s dynamics with elaborated progressive arrangements, there are also some ‘classy’ classical music sections – a trademark from this band – especially some intros which are some of the best bits of the entire album.
‘The Grand Spirit Voyage‘ in particular has a great build up in it, although here it would have been nice for it to lead to something more impactful than a prog instrumental section.

“Life” is a solid comeback album from a band that made a considerable impact during the last decade playing this blend of ’80s rock, prog, metal and classical.
This Adagio 2017 feels focused, wit a very well recorded & mixed new record that will please fans of this genre.

01 – Life
02 – The ladder
03 – Subrahmanya
04 – The grand spirit voyage
05 – Darkness machine
06 – I’ll possess you
07 – Secluded within myself
08 – Trippin’ away
09 – Torn

Kelly Sundown – Vocals
Stéphan Forté – Guitar
Franck Hermanny – Bass
Mayline Gautié – Violin
Kevin Codfert – Keyboards
Jelly Cardarelli – Drums

PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.de/Life-Adagio/dp/B071LHVQW8
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