FINAL CONFLICT: Return Of The Artisan (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After having created a pleasant surprise in 2009 by releasing the excellent DVD "Another Moment In Time - Live In Poland", much more interesting than their previous productions, Final Conflict offers us with "Return of the Artisan" their sixth studio album. It seems that the change of line-up between the album "Simple" and the DVD was beneficial for the band. The arrival of Barry Elwood and Henry Rogers (bass and drums) finally bursts Final Conflict's music to life. For the record, Henry Rogers played with Touchstone and DeeExpus.

After "The Calling", a punchy and catchy introduction where the new rhythm section indulges itself, the British combo gets into the core of the subject with the excellent "The Mechanic". The two guitarists (Andy Lawton and Brian Donkin) play the complementarity, the one making his instrument roar, the other developing a melody whose harmonies are tangled with the keyboard ascents. The set is tonic and unfolds a palette of styles going from the quasi metal to the bucolic symphonism, the whole punctuated with well set vocals. Hats off also to Steve Lipiec's keyboard work, especially in the piano register with the short instrumental "The Spark" whose theme is taken up again in the intro of the following track "Hopes and Dreams". Incidentally, this "Hopes and Dreams" turns out to be very rich since it can remind Deep Purple in its first half with the use of Hammond sounds, then Pendragon with a final guitar/synth very 'Barrettian/Nolan'.

In the game of similarities (inspirations?), Final Conflict ranges far and wide since we can compare "Around About" with the neo Polish (Satellite), whereas we can hear 'Floydian' accents in "Babylon". But the most blatant filiation is still with Arena period during "The Visitor"-"Immortal? It's not plagiarism, don't read what's not written, but more touches here and there, reminding more or less the vocal expression of Rob Sowden or a guitar shot of John Mitchell. The last three tracks, "The Harlequin", "Keeper of Conscience" and "Return of the Artisan" are a beautiful illustration. But it would be reductive to limit the interest of this album only to these influences, just like"Return of the Artisan" finally brings the revelation of a band that has found a balance and a dynamic well anchored in the neo-progressive rock quality.

If Final Conflict persists in the way opened with this new album, the neo-progressive rock will have to count on a new reliable value going to tickle the big old ones and competing for the places of challengers to younger ones such as Moonrise or Mystery, in a style however slightly different. - Official website

FINAL CONFLICT

RETURN OF THE ARTISAN

AUTRE LABEL

PROGRESSIVE ROCK