BEST PROGRESSIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR : MARILLION – F E A R [SACD / Super Audio CD Digibook] (2016)

Near the end of the year, it’s time to recap about the best 2016 releases, by category.
For 0dayrox, the Best Progressive album of the Year is without a doubt MARILLION’s F E A R, one of the best of their career as well.

“F.E.A.R.“, the new great MARILLION album just has been released in a high quality Super Audio CD (SACD) that really worth the purchase.
F.E.A.R. (F*ck Everyone And Run) is the eighteenth Marillion album, and its title surprised many people but according to singer Steve Hogarth it’s chosen not in anger or with any intention to shock. It is adopted and sung (in the song ‘The New Kings’) tenderly, in sadness and resignation inspired by an England, and a world, which increasingly functions on an “Every man for himself” philosophy.

“F.E.A.R.” sees the band taking on the big themes but they do not see it as their place to preach to people. The gold cover artwork is likely to be a reference to El Dorado, who was a mythical tribal chief from what is now Colombia, and who supposedly covered himself in gold dust which he then washed off in a lake while his tribe threw gold trinkets into the water. Over time, the word has come to mean a lost city filled with gold.

Opener ‘El Dorado’, which is split over five segments and extending to over 16 minutes, possesses the sublime musical passages that Marillion have always been known for. Lyrically, examines the notions of political entitlement and the modern challenges for the UK
‘Living in FEAR’ come ostensibly as a song about peace, with archetypal sentiments of disarmament, it’s a polished, succinct track that also has a sublime earworm of a chorus.

Then ‘The Leavers’ is an expansive song that contains five distinct, seductive sections. With soaring Rothery guitar solos and opulent keyboards, it’s one of the finest tracks that the band have released over recent years.

‘White Paper’ is a shorter track, a ‘format song’. There’s a distinct sadness to the lyrics that’s neatly equalled by the authoritative musical backdrop, while ‘The New Kings’ bring a powerful lyrical statement on the general state of the world, the track runs to almost 20 minutes of luscious progressive rock.

On “F.E.A.R.” Marillion returns to the ‘progressive rock’ album format, but musically it’s the same Marillion we all love; melodic, at places atmospheric, velvety crafted and with that sweet vocal melodies.
It’s a really strong, palatable new offering from these great British musicians. In fact, it’s a little masterpiece.
Highly Recommended

01. El Dorado (i) Long-Shadowed Sun
02. El Dorado (ii) The Gold
03. El Dorado (iii) Demolished Lives
04. El Dorado (iv) F E A R
05. El Dorado (v) The Grandchildren of Apes
06. Living In F E A R
07. The Leavers (i) Wake Up In Music
08. The Leavers (ii) The Remainers
09. The Leavers (iii) Vapour Trails In The Sky
10. The Leavers (iv) The Jumble Of Days
11. The Leavers (v) One Tonight
12. White Paper
13. The New Kings (i) F*ck Everyone and Run
14. The New Kings (ii) Russia’s Locked Doors
15. The New Kings (iii) A Scary Sky
16. The New Kings (iv) Why Is Nothing Ever True?
17. Tomorrow’s New Country

Steve Rothery – electric guitars, acoustic guitars
Mark Kelly – keyboards, backing vocals, programming
Pete Trewavas – bass, backing vocals, additional guitars
Ian Mosley – drums, percussion
Steve Hogarth – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars, percussion

BUY IT !
www.lasercd.com/cd/fear-sacd-digibook
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