By: Anders

Posted: Jun 5, 2006

The Canadian veteran progressive rock mastodons are now ready with their new and 17th album, quite impressive, even when having in mind the band has been going strong for more than 28 years. The band has on this new album, tried to work in more of their progressive trademarks, which made them known in their early years, and which more or less got pushed to the side for a more melodic side and easier to get into songs along the road. But damn Saga does a good job at intertwining the 2 sides of the band and makes a good whole album, with lots of hooks and great progressive elements.

The music flows, it really flows, it grips one as soon as the first tone leaves the speakers, and after that, during the 11 tracks, which last 48 minutes, one is sitting, tapping the foot, enjoying the music. The base of the songs are very catchy and offers a ton of good melodies, both delivered by the guitars and the keyboards, there are a lot of great keyboard work on this album, both the leadwork and the more hidden atmospheric work, really impressive. It is always present, but never annoying or showing off, and going out of context, it is always fitted perfectly into the music. The guitar play on "Trust" is beyond this world as well, really sublime. The solos on the album are breathtaking, classic, but still pushing the limits a bit, without overdoing it, really stylish. The heavy bass, which is hiding just below the guitar, is great and always audible. The drumming is as expected, always keeping the rhythm tight and delivering a few great details here and there. The vocals are as always in Saga context good, the lead vocals from Michael Sadler goes from soft and mellow to more aggressive and high, but always with a great deal of passion, a thing that the music always reeks of. Backed up by the softer vocals from Jim Gilmour, a great couple, lifting the songs even higher.

The music on "Trust" is really classy, organic and flowing. It catches on fairly fast and stays on ones mind in a good amount of time after the CD stops spinning. At first the music seems really simple, though that is mostly due the band's amazing songwriting skills, which make the technical parts flowing fluid with the hooks and catchy parts. So when one digs below the surface of the music a real treat is waiting. A great progressive rock album, displaying all that the "scene" is about and all the elements that makes Saga, Saga, without going on any compromise!

Rating: 9/10

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