Tomorrow's Outlook - 34613

 

Let me start off by saying what's with the cover? I know a book/CD shouldn't be judged by it's cover but I can't help it. It's a Polar Bear & a Demon(?) chasing after a Mazda in the arctic... I just don't get it. 

OK now that I've got that off my chest let's get to the music. I put this album on thinking to myself I can't see this being something I'd go out of my way to listen to and I was not far off the mark but it's not all bad. The music is a bit of a cross between Iron Maiden & Queensryche with a symphonic metal touch thrown into the mix. The vocals are something that stand out as needing the most work. The singer sounds like he is still learning to use his voice and is at times not quite hitting the notes he's aiming for. The lyrics occasionally sound awkward also for lack of a better word and as if they needed to be given just a bit more attention when being written. 

Overall I'd say the albums sounds like it's been slapped together with a bit of a "yeah that's good enough" attitude even though according to their website "34613 was recorded on a song-by-song basis (early 2007 through late 2010). It was recorded by different engineers and in different locations around the world". It almost sounds like more of a demo rather than a fully produced album.
The highlights for me would have to be the 2 ballads of the album, The Ethereal Dream where I hear the strongest Queensryche influence & A Song For You which keep the symphonic element and the unnecessary high notes to a minimum. It's these 2 tunes that saved the album from a rating far worse than what I could have given it & which I can happily listen to again.
There is also a cover of Lizzy Borden's Red Rum which they completely butcher (see what I did there :-p). 

Overall I think the album has potential but falls short of what it could have been.

 

-- Chris Xynos