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GENIUS (A ROCK OPERA) Episode 2: In Search Of The Little Prince (Frontier Records) (2004)
There are many reasons why I believe that the creation of a successful
Rock/Metal Opera is a very difficult task. When a whole album is based
on a single story, the composer needs to make sure that every listener
will be able to remain focused to the story from beginning to the end.
I accepted the challenge of making a review for the second episode of
the Genius Rock Opera, not only because I became a big fan of Daniele
Liverani's work since the release of Empty Tremor's album "The Alien
Inside", but also because I was quite impressed by the cast of singers
that decided to participate in the creation of this album.
I never got the chance to listen to the first part of the Genius
trilogy, so I was a bit insecure as to whether I would be able to
understand and follow the scenario throughout this 70-minute album. I
assume that this was the exact reason that led Liverani to create the
role of "The Storyteller", for which Philip Bynoe's (Steve Vai, Ring of
Fire) services was required. Bynoe's short narrations in the beginning of
every song are the guide to understanding this quite complicated story.
As for the musical part: Genius is a very interesting mixture of Heavy,
Progressive and Melodic Metal, all of which co-exist in great balance
and harmony - music that both fans of Yngwie J.Malmsteen and Dream
Theater will find quite appealing. But what is it that makes Genius so
special? Why should anyone choose to invest in this specific release,
and not in any other similar "attempt", by another equally optimistic
composer?
Genius is the product of Liverani's ambition to create something unique
by using his sole compositional skills. As a result, the music is quite
focused and well orientated. Not only did Liverani write all the
compositions, but he's also the person responsible for the album's
impressive production. All the rest was left to the very capable voices
of Mark Boals (Ring of Fire, ex-Malmsteen), Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of
Salvation), Russel Allen (Symphony X), Eric Martin (ex-Mr.Big) and Liv
Kristine (ex-Theatre of Tragedy), who's great performances gave colour
to the album, and made Genius a necessity for every Progressive and
Melodic Metal fan.
Genius should be judged as a unity, like every Rock/Metal Opera, but I
have to admit that it was the album's longest compositions that made the
difference to me, which by the way is one of it's strongest points. You
will never feel lost inside a song, even when it's nine minutes long -
quite an achievement indeed!
Genius and his fellow companion "Twinspirit 32" continue their amazing
adventures in the Dream League, fighting to prove King Mc Chaos'
innocence, save the little prince and find a way to manage to get out of
the great mess that was created when Genius accidentally entered the
world of dreams.
I, for one, am very interested to find out what will happen next - what
about you?
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Review by John Stefanis
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