Mindgames Belgium
"M!ndgames released their fourth Album after 5 years. The longest distance between their albums from their first album till now. And their second change in their line up happened in this album. The "Important" change in my opinion. Their former guitarist "Rudy Vander Vaken" left the band and replaced by "Sandro Sarita". Now they enter to new era of their career. I (as a fan of them) was very eagered to listen their new album after 5 years and after this important change in their line up. Finally their new Album released : " Paradox of Choice".
Their prev album "MMX" was successful for them and now they search for their "Own Place" in Progressive Rock scene.�
Let me preview songs of "Paradox of Choice". Album start with 20sec narration as "Prologue". This show direction of lyrics of album.
" The Whistle-Blower" designed for introducing their new member "Sndro Sarita" as their new guitarist. Sounding of Electric Guitar , semi-improvise solo , Dynamic bass line and keyboard sounding helped to guitar to listened better. You can't find similar song in this album. Note to Keyboard's sounds from Start to End. Using and adding fair Sounds to Prepare good space for Guitar solo.�
"The Age of Plenty" is the Longest track of album start with heavy Guitar-Key riff (very similar to SAGA band riffs) and dynamic bass playing with good vocal. Keyboard sounding completely different to Prev song. You can hear Melotrone sound in this song clearly. This song have many of "Epic Song Elements" like : Changing tempo of song in many times, Guitar solo playing in middle of song , Changing music directions and back to start riff of song and ... . I like this "Back to Start" so much (like "The Student Prince" song from Comedy of Error's Disobey album) . BUT they didn't successful to make a "Solid Epic" song IMO. It seem like a "Variety of styles" that joined with fillers! not a solid Epic song! The end of this song is the weakest part of that. After 9:00 min, music CUT Unexpected to "Mellow key-guitar" atmospheric music that repeated like a loop , and this loop fade out in end of the song!!! Why? they could finished this song in 9:00 min easily (IMO) and it seem that they like to have "Over 10min" song and forced to use this format to reach to 11th min!�
"Out of Site" is a "Good and Standard" mellow song with playing Keyboard and E-Guitar solo melodies and one tempo changing in 3:50min for Guitar solo. I will use "They prepare good space for their guitarist to play solo" in many times because its happen in most of the album's songs . IMO this can be their "Signature" for solo guitar playing . They did it with their own style (IMO).
" Revenge of the Wizard" is different song . This designed to show Vocals (Bart Schram) abilities . Song start with Key-Guitar riff. Bass and Drums and Vocals add to them one by one. Vocal leading this song till 3:45min. In this time music changed to "Orchestral" music with "Theatrical" Atmosphere. Now Bart start to sing "Theatrical" and "Walking Over" on most parts of song "Freely" till 4:45 and then music back to start and guitar start to play solo. After that Vocal back to sing till end of the song. I love Guitar solo of this song. IMO its fit for this kind of music style.
"Requiem For A Dancing World" start with mellow Trone Keyboard chords and Vocals singing, and the "Soft sound" guitar add to them. Now Bass and Drum join them to make rhythm of song . Vocal is leader of this song again! You can see Bart Schram's shadow in this song (as most of the album's songs) clearly. I think after "Vander Vaken"leaving , Bart increased his Vocal parts but he is very smart musician and he never hurt the music and the band. After 5 min , music start to go faster and increase the tempo of the song and Keyboard leading other instruments to reach to time of key and Guitar solos. 2 short solo's of key and Guitar and then Bart back to leading song to end. they do it like short passing in Football game! I like this passing so much!�
"Context? Anyone?" Start with Guitar "Sustain and Reverb sounding" Arpeggio like "Marillion's style" and continue with good Accompaniment. The important thing in this song is "Guitars layers and Overdubs" and "Un-Heard" keyboard playing and beautiful Guitar solo. IMO best Arrangement of this album happened in this song IMO.
"The Sands of Time" is Start with Mellow Piano-Guitar duet and then music changed to heavy Guitar-Key riff . Very good start in my opinion. You can heard many different sounds like colors of a beautiful Paint . Guitar is very Active and playing short parts that helped to Accompaniment with good sounding. This song is one of the best of album IMO. Bart did his job very good as Vocalist and leading this song perfectly. Guitar solo is match to other elements . This is very good sign for their future . This is Sandro Starita's song IMO. His best playing happened in this song.
"From A Drone's Perspective" is the last song of the album. the Semi-Epic song in 10 min have many of different sounds and styles in "Short Parts". The most Complex song of album and great instrumental playing specially in Key and Guitar. Bass and Drums are match perfectly and Melotrone sound and Vocal style show their potential to compose and play Progressive Rock music specially "Symphonic Prog" style.
"Paradox of Choice" is a Great album in my ears. It's a Exact Progressive Rock album and I'ts over a "Standard" album in my opinion I'm afraid that it's not their "Best" album. Instrumental parts are shorter than their "Standard" in my ears and Vocal sing in all of the songs duration . Bart sing in 80% of each song and IMO he designed this album to show his skills and abilities first. If you ask me "What you recall 2-3 hours after your last listening?". My honest answer is : Bart Voice. �
Its very clear that "Bart Schram" is the M!ndgames Mastermind and leader. Now he have 2 different choices like the Album Titel "Paradox of Choice!" for future of M!ndgames:
Changing the name of band to "Bart Schram's M!ndgames" and go to the path that "Fish" went�
OR
Continue this with using another members ideas and abilities in M!ndgames as a solid band and try to make better stuffs. Me and other M!NDGAMES fans know Bart is the band leader and he is a Perfect musician. He work with great musicians in M!ndgames.�
Finally I can't ignore similarities between this album and Comedy of Errors' Disobey album. I think Disobey is a great album too. M!ndgames must back to "Balanced" music and add Creative and new ideas to their music. They can do it easily because of their potential and abilities.
Highly Recommend to Progressive Rock fans specially Neo Progressive Rock fans. One of the Best albums of 2015 in their genre. Don't miss that."
