Shadow Gallery Tyranny CD

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 Better concept album than DT's Scenes from a Memory
I'm not a big fan of concept albums. I think too many prog bands feel an obligation to record such an album, even when it doesn't suit their talents. This is usually why so many concept albums fall flat on their face. My biggest complaint with concept albums is that the music is often lost in the pursuit of the "story". This makes for albums with songs that can't stand on their own and albums loaded with useless filler tracks. All that aside, I can say that Shadow Gallery have proved to me that a band can actually record a concept album that sounds like an album. The songs on Tyranny can easily stand on their own as single tracks. There aren't any meaningless filler tracks or non-musical narrations. What the band presents here is a cohesive collection of great songs that you can easily identify. And the music? Well let's just say that this is top notch prog metal. It's progressive music with a metallic bite and yet it's metal music with progressive tendencies. It's neither light nor is it heavy. It's just a excellent mixture of styles and textures without being boring or pretentious. Another aspect I love about this album is the use of vocal harmonies. At times it really reminds me of Uriah Heep with Mike Barker often sounding very similar to Bernie Shaw. The choruses are well executed and catchy which is yet another reason why each of the songs can stand on their own. As much as I like Dream Theater, Tyranny is a much better executed concept album than Scenes from a Memory. While Tyranny isn't as heavy or as instrumentally bombastic; it is certainly more cohesive, better paced, and more even from start to finish. I would recommend this album highly to prog metal fans if you want to hear what I consider to be the right way to do a concept album. Some of you may not agree with my assessment of concept albums, but for those of you that do, this is definitely an album you need! I'd gladly give this album 4.5 stars if it were allowed.
Submitted by dltF90 (Barbertucky, Ohio) 
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 Masterpiece
This album is flawless! The only album better than Tyranny is Dream Theater's "Scenes From a Memory." The musicianship, line-up, lyrics, melodies, and song compositions are amazing. This is a must-have album. If you don't like it at first, give it a few more listens and it will surely grow on you. Truly a masterpiece and Shadow Gallery's finest work!
Submitted by Joe (Livonia, MI) 
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 Brilliant original, Power-prog
Tyranny is or was perhaps S.G. finest moment on their career and will never be surpassed again, the mix and heavy sound is so balanced, plus amazing guitar players, in betwen Malmsteen and Vai, yet no clones, the record opens with amazing power to turn in to awesome speed riffing and develops with majesty through the end, its a record impossible to compare, the main voice along with Carl Cadden James and everybody in the band are incredible as instrumentalists, capable of give not only technique but also feeling, something that the aforementioned D.T. had lost a long time ago(La Brie doesn't sing like he used to anymore not even when he performs live).Tyranny is one of the genre's top ten concept albums of all time with no doubt, War for sale, Hope For us, I Belive and Christmas Day are among the most wonderful, bright and touching compositions ever.
Submitted by rodrigotrupp, trupprodrigo (Chicago, Il, usa.)
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 Fantastic!!
I can't possibly think of enough adjectives to describe how much I LOVE this cd. Buy it, listen, and remember you read it here first. And to the guy with the "discerning taste" in prog metal. Give it up. DT is certainly a pioneering band, but Symphony X blows them away! And Shadow Gallery has been much more creative than DT in the years since this release.
Submitted by Al (Verona, WI)
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 A FANTASTIC CONCEPT RELEASE
WITH ALL THE GARBAGE OUT THERE BEING PASSED OFF AS MUSIC, IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT A BAND WITH THIS MUCH TALENT IS NOT WITH A MAJOR RECORDING LABEL. THAT BEING SAID, I UNDERSTAND THAT PROGRESSIVE ROCK/METAL MUSIC IS A LOVE IT OR HATE IT QUESTION OF TASTE,AND NOT THE BIGGEST SELLING STYLE OUT THERE. IF YOU ENJOY DREAM THEATER, QUEENSRYCHE, PINK FLOYD,OR FATES WARNING GIVE THESE GUYS A LISTEN. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED...
Submitted by wc1964 (GROTON,CT,USA)
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