
Galahad
Beyond the Realms of Euphoria
Avalon Music
2012
When I first heard that Galahad are about to release two albums in a 5 month period and of course in the same year, I was a bit skeptical of how they could keep it up at the same music level with each one of the works. After I had listened to “Battle Scars”, which is an exceptional album… I was more wary of how they could beat it… or at least reach it.
Thankfully, the answer came from the band itself… and as soon as I listened to the album, I gave it time to grow on me. I didn’t want to be carried away by instant feelings of joy and certainly, I didn’t want to be biased. “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria” is carrying elements from “Battle Scars” but it’s in its own art neo prog category. The band didn’t - and that’s quite challenging - copy themselves neither tried to mimic the previous album. Even though all the songs were recorded at the same period more or less - the late bassist Neil Pepper is playing here – the atmosphere and the soundscapes they’re creating are somewhat diverse. That blend of neo prog with electro, trance, hard rock, atmospheric, classic, symphonic & pop rock elements has made their sound quite varied, contemporary and unique. They are taking you into emotional, hard, atmospheric, melodic, progressive, a bit melancholic, up-to-date, mystical & dreamy music paths… but they do leave you a way out at long last.
As a way to celebrate their 25th anniversary, they re-recorded “Richeleiu’s Prayer” from the debut “Nothing is Written” this time. Luckily, the first keyboardist of the band, Mark Andrews is also participating in the song. Galahad has teamed up once again with the well-known guitarist, songwriter & producer Karl Groom (Threshold) so as to produce the CD. Karl recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered the album at Thin Ice Studios, Surrey, England and the result is fresh & stunning.
Were I to say which one of the latest two works is better, I objectively cannot do so. It’s hard to choose between them. They both have a lot to offer to the listener and definitely quite different music things. We all have our own special preferences. Someone is not necessarily obliged to listen to the one release so as to comprehend the other. These albums are, simply, two dissimilar releases. On “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria” Galahad are going deeper into philosophical issues such as God, salvation and the human mind. If you enjoyed “Battle Scars” then there’s no way not to revel in “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria”.
Thankfully, the answer came from the band itself… and as soon as I listened to the album, I gave it time to grow on me. I didn’t want to be carried away by instant feelings of joy and certainly, I didn’t want to be biased. “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria” is carrying elements from “Battle Scars” but it’s in its own art neo prog category. The band didn’t - and that’s quite challenging - copy themselves neither tried to mimic the previous album. Even though all the songs were recorded at the same period more or less - the late bassist Neil Pepper is playing here – the atmosphere and the soundscapes they’re creating are somewhat diverse. That blend of neo prog with electro, trance, hard rock, atmospheric, classic, symphonic & pop rock elements has made their sound quite varied, contemporary and unique. They are taking you into emotional, hard, atmospheric, melodic, progressive, a bit melancholic, up-to-date, mystical & dreamy music paths… but they do leave you a way out at long last.
As a way to celebrate their 25th anniversary, they re-recorded “Richeleiu’s Prayer” from the debut “Nothing is Written” this time. Luckily, the first keyboardist of the band, Mark Andrews is also participating in the song. Galahad has teamed up once again with the well-known guitarist, songwriter & producer Karl Groom (Threshold) so as to produce the CD. Karl recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered the album at Thin Ice Studios, Surrey, England and the result is fresh & stunning.
Were I to say which one of the latest two works is better, I objectively cannot do so. It’s hard to choose between them. They both have a lot to offer to the listener and definitely quite different music things. We all have our own special preferences. Someone is not necessarily obliged to listen to the one release so as to comprehend the other. These albums are, simply, two dissimilar releases. On “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria” Galahad are going deeper into philosophical issues such as God, salvation and the human mind. If you enjoyed “Battle Scars” then there’s no way not to revel in “Beyond the Realms of Euphoria”.