Rather than club the listener with all burners aflame, though, they allow the considerable range of their ideas and abilities to unfold as each piece progresses. On this thought-provoking fourth album, the astute listener might hear influences as far afield as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Kansas, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, all subsumed into a whole that packs a collective wallop. Together, they generate a move toward a dizzying climax, Joe Novelo's drumming nailing everything into place. Count in some superb group vocal harmonies, and you've got one hell of an exciting opener.
Acoustic guitars reverberate in space, as a tale of spiritual awakening begins.
Ultimately, the recognition of a higher power brings comfort in the dark, blue earth of the initial verse. Shadow Gallery easily sustains interest throughout, using an abundance of sheer riffage developmentally, even orchestrally. The final 13 minutes of the piece seem to be an audacious joke, until the band resolves the goings-on with perfect, conceptual sense. These guys are ferocious.