Ian Parry’s Consortium Project VI – ‘Legacy Of Empires’

(Frontiers Music)

There are some albums that grab you by the throat from the opening seconds and refuse to let go. Then there are albums that require a little more patience, a little more concentration and, occasionally, a little more enthusiasm than the listener actually has available. Ian Parry's Consortium Project VI Legacy Of Empires falls rather firmly into the latter category.

This is the sixth chapter in the long-running Consortium Project saga, a project that has been delivering its particular brand of progressive and power metal since the late nineties. Parry has assembled another impressive collection of musicians for this latest instalment, including players associated with Vanden Plas, Kamelot and Pain Of Salvation. On paper, therefore, the ingredients look extremely promising. In practice, however, Legacy Of Empires is an album that is considerably easier to admire than it is to love.

The biggest problem is that the music frequently feels rather serious and self-important. There is nothing wrong with ambition, of course, and progressive metal has always been a genre that thrives on grand ideas, elaborate arrangements and epic subject matter. Legacy Of Empires certainly has all of those things. The album explores themes of power, conflict, legacy and the rise and fall of civilisations, giving the whole record a suitably cinematic and conceptual atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the grand scale doesn't always translate into great songs.

Musically, this is polished, technically proficient progressive metal with plenty of weight behind it. There are chunky guitar riffs, sweeping keyboards, symphonic touches, muscular bass and accomplished drumming. Nothing sounds amateurish, and there is clearly a huge amount of musicianship involved. The production gives everything plenty of space, allowing the different instrumental layers to sit comfortably within the mix.

But sometimes I found myself waiting for the music to really take off.

That's the frustrating thing about Legacy Of Empires. It contains plenty of the right ingredients, but they don't always combine into something genuinely exciting. There are moments when the arrangements suggest that something spectacular is about to happen, only for the music to settle back into another fairly predictable progressive metal passage. The album is certainly not bad, but too much of it feels like it is moving sideways rather than forwards.

Ian Parry remains a distinctive vocalist and his experience is obvious. His voice has a character that separates him from the army of interchangeable singers currently occupying the progressive and power metal scene. He delivers the material with authority and plenty of conviction, and there is an appealing dramatic quality to his performance. The problem is less with Parry himself and more with the material he has been given to work with. The vocal melodies don't always possess the hooks necessary to make the songs stick in the memory.

And that lack of immediacy is perhaps the album's biggest weakness.

Progressive metal doesn't have to be instantly accessible, but even the most complex albums need moments that reward the listener. Legacy Of Empires occasionally provides those moments, particularly when the guitars become more forceful or the keyboards add a suitably grandiose flourish, but they aren't frequent enough. Too often the listener is left appreciating the craftsmanship rather than actually feeling the music.

There are also times when the album seems determined to remind you just how progressive it is. Time changes, layered arrangements and instrumental flourishes are all very well, but technical complexity should serve the songwriting rather than become the songwriting. Here, some of the arrangements feel overly constructed, giving the record a slightly mechanical quality.

That said, there is absolutely nothing embarrassing about Legacy Of Empires. Far from it. The musicianship is excellent; the production is strong and Parry's commitment to the Consortium Project concept remains admirable. The album also benefits from the sense that this is a genuine labour of love rather than a cynical exercise in nostalgia. Parry has described the record as a way of completing the sixth chapter of the Consortium Project saga while celebrating 45 years as a professional singer-songwriter.

For devoted followers of the project, that alone will make this an important release.

For everyone else, though, I'm not entirely convinced.

Legacy Of Empires is an album that I desperately wanted to enjoy more than I did. There is plenty here for progressive metal fans to appreciate, but appreciation and excitement are two very different things. The record is polished, ambitious, technically impressive and occasionally genuinely powerful, yet it rarely delivers that knockout moment that makes you immediately reach for the volume control.

‘The Constellation Of Stars’ is a suitably atmospheric introduction that sets the scene for what is to follow. Cinematic keyboards and orchestral textures create an epic sense of anticipation, although it feels more like an elaborate doorway into the album than a piece that stands strongly on its own.

‘Legacy Of Empires’ brings the guitars into play with a muscular progressive metal sound. There are some impressive instrumental passages and plenty of weight, but the songwriting takes its time to develop. Parry delivers the vocals with his trademark authority, although the melodies aren't quite as memorable as they could be.

‘A Declaration Of Independence’ is a more energetic number with some strong riffing and a pleasingly dramatic arrangement. The keyboards add another layer to the progressive sound, while the chorus provides some welcome accessibility. It's solid stuff, although it never quite reaches the heights the arrangement promises.

‘Gods From The Heavens Above’ is where the album really embraces its epic ambitions. Grandiose keyboards, heavy guitars and powerful vocals combine to create a suitably imposing atmosphere. There are some excellent moments here, but the song is perhaps guilty of trying to cram too much into its running time.

‘A Kingdom For Heroes’ is a more melodic offering with some excellent guitar work and a strong vocal performance from Parry. The atmosphere is suitably heroic without becoming excessively bombastic. One of the more enjoyable compositions, although again the hooks aren't quite strong enough to make it an instant favourite.

The darker side of the album emerges on ‘Pyramids Of Power’, with chunky riffs and a brooding atmosphere. The progressive elements are particularly prominent, and there are some clever instrumental changes. Unfortunately, the song occasionally feels more complicated than necessary.

‘The Secrets Of Creation’ is a slower-burning composition that relies heavily on atmosphere and arrangement. The keyboards are particularly effective, creating a mysterious backdrop for Parry's vocals. There's plenty to admire from a musicianship perspective, although patience is definitely required.

‘Awake The Forgotten Souls’ is a suitably dramatic piece that combines melodic passages with heavier progressive metal. The vocal melodies are among the better moments on the album, and the guitars provide some welcome aggression. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does deliver a reasonably satisfying listen.

‘The Burden Of Truth’ is another ambitious composition, packed with changes, layered instrumentation and plenty of technical ability. Parry sounds particularly commanding here, but the song occasionally becomes bogged down in its own complexity. Impressive rather than immediately enjoyable.

‘Nature’s Eyes’, the closing track provides an appropriately expansive finale. There is a sense of resolution running through the arrangement, with the melodic and progressive elements coming together nicely. It doesn't completely erase the album's shortcomings, but it finishes things on a reasonably strong note.

Legacy Of Empires is an album overflowing with musicianship and ambition, but it sometimes sacrifices memorable songwriting for complexity. There are plenty of good ideas here, yet the overall experience remains frustratingly inconsistent. Progressive metal devotees will find much to appreciate, but casual listeners may struggle to connect with it.

Ultimately, Legacy Of Empires is a respectable but decidedly average addition to the Consortium Project catalogue. It has enough quality to prevent it from being dismissed, but not quite enough inspiration to make it essential listening. Fans of Ian Parry and the previous Consortium Project albums will undoubtedly find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers might be better advised to investigate the earlier chapters before making this their introduction.

A competent progressive metal album, certainly. An essential one? I'm afraid not.

5/10

Essential Track – ‘Legacy Of Empires’

Review By Woody