Back To Live is a double live album from the German art rock band Sylvan, recorded at Cultuurpodium Boerderij on 27 October 2023. The show in Zoetermeer featured twelve songs and "only" four songs - Encoded At Heart, Trust In Yourself, Part Of Me and Go Viral - from Sylvan's last album One To Zero (2021, see review) were played. This wonderful neo prog gig kicked off with the lengthy song In Between, a track from their wonderful album Home (2015, see review) and this amazing opener set the tone and scene for this performance. Another epic track, being Given, Used, Forgotten, takes the audience back to 2004, while King Porn from Force Of Gravity (2009, see review) is the "heaviest' song of this live album. From Sylvan's prog classic album Posthumous Silence (2006) you can enjoy four tracks. Namely In Chains, The Colours Changed, A Kind Of Eden and the title song, and the latter closes this impressive gig in an impressive way indeed. My personal favourite here is Part Of Me, featuring a breath-taking, melodic guitar solo by the very skilled and talented guitar picker Johnny Beck. The sound of the entire album is great and makes you want to listen to Back To Live a lot indeed, and do not forget to play it LOUD. **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
