HEADSPACE – All That You Fear Is Gone (2016)

Comprising high profile musicians such as vocalist Damian Wilson of Threshold, keyboardist Adam Wakeman of Snakecharmer / Ozzy‘s band (and son of the Yes legend) and Lee Pomeroy of note for his bass work with almost everyone ever (including Steve Hackett), HEADSPACE greatly surprised us with a superb debut four years ago. “All That You Fear Is Gone” is their brand new musical creation released today February 26, 2016 by InsideOut Music.

“All That You Fear Is Gone” delivers melodic progressive rock notably softer than its predecessor, although it still has plenty of bite. Clocking in at well over an hour, the album could have been a staggering task to sit through, but the band’s expert sense of construction and pacing kept me spellbound.
Many tracks flow seamlessly from one to the next while others end in an intentional pause, signalling a shift in mood or tone. The massive amount of content and variation is impressive.
Lightning fast guitar riffs accompanied by bottomed out rhythms effortlessly switch to acoustic pieces, and the keys bounce from psychedelic synths to the ivories of a grand piano without a hitch. The tone is a kaleidoscope of hope, fear, joy, despair, safety, danger, and many more all wrapped in Wilson’s powerful and disciplined voice cut with mystifying lyricism.

On this new album, Headspace continue to explore a special ground, throwing in elements of progressive metal of course, but focusing on open and imaginative melodic arrangements and instrumentation. Wakeman continues to excel in using a plethora of well-planned sounds within each song. Within the heavier section of the opening track, “Road to Supremacy” you can hear nearly half a dozen shifts in the keyboards, as the music around them remains more relatively constant. Pete Rinaldi’s electric guitar only occasionally sees anything that approaches a traditional riff, most often staying as loose and moving as the rest of the music.
Even a song like “Semaphore”, which tricks you into thinking it’s going to be a straight ahead rocker from start to finish, takes a sharp left turn back into traditional Headspace territory half way through.

“Your Life Will Change”, the lead single from the album, does a fantastic job at bridging the gap between the last album and what to expect on the new one, that is a more melodic approach. “Polluted Alcohol” and the title track continue to show what the band can do when stripped back.
On the other hand, “The Science Within Us” shows the band can still do a fantastic 10+ minute piece. And yet, across the board, everything seems dialed one small step back.

“All That You Fear Is Gone” is an excellent album and easily justifies the four-year incubation period. The ideas that Headspace established in their first record have been enlarged on in a meaningful way. The album gives an idea of the broad range that the band is capable of.
On “All That You Fear Is Gone” Headspace continues demonstrating they still have such a unique identity and special delivery that any music fan should immediately take note. They have merged here the heavier elements of debut with a new haunting melodic approach expanding their horizon to a wider audience.

It should come as no surprise what a man named Wakeman can do with a keyboard, but you can’t teach imagination and creativity as easily, and Adam brings both in spades. Add to that the fact that for his myriad of projects over the years, this is the one that best utilizes Damian Wilson’s voice, and you have a one-two punch that should make Headspace a band to watch for years to come.
Do not hesitate to just go and check it out as soon as you can.
Highly Recommended.

01 – Road to Supremacy
02 – Your Life Will Change
03 – Polluted Alcohol
04 – Kill You with Kindness
05 – The Element
06 – The Science Within Us
07 – Semaphore
08 – The Death Bell
09 – The Day You Return
10 – All That You Fear Is Gone
11 – Borders and Days
12 – Secular Soul

Damian Wilson / vocals
Pete Rinaldi / guitars, backing vocals
Adam Wakeman / keyboards, piano, backing vocals
Lee Pomeroy / bass, chapman stick, bass pedals
Adam Falkner / drums

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www.amazon.co.uk/All-That-You-Fear-Gone/dp/B0196MX8XI
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