For most fans of The Samurai Of Prog I don't have to explain what the music of The Guildmaster is all about. They undoubtedly know that this is a side project in which the folk elements are more prominent than in the music of The Samurai Of Prog. In which the retro side of the participating musicians is more prominent. For this side project Gathering Of Souls is already the third studio album after the excellent The Knight And The Ghost (2020, see review) and Liber De Dictis (2022, see review). The musicians behind this new musical effort are the Spanish folk expert and multi instrumentalist Rafael Pacha, Finnish drummer Kimmo Pörsti (TSOP, Paidarion, Mist Season), Italian bassist Marco Bernard (TSOP), and the Italian keyboardist Alessandro Di Benedetti (Mad Crayon, Inner Prospekt). As on all of the earlier releases you can hear that The Guildmaster musically is strongly influenced by symphonic prog and folk prog without completely foregoing the integration of other musical styles. You can see it as a union that has its roots in a rich and layered sonic aesthetic. Their work stands out for its peculiar fusion of medieval, baroque and rock sounds. Gathering Of Souls is configured as a thematic concept album. Which draws a metaphorical journey of research and introspection. An epic that crosses different historical, emotional and spiritual dimensions. This new album presents itself as an enveloping sound experience in which they are capable of transporting the listener to remote eras. You are between legends and timeless adventures. It is an ode to a musical aesthetic that celebrates the intertwining of past and present. But also between the rigor of classical music and the expressive freedom of progressive rock. Let me take you into this special musical journey! The Crusade Of Earl Birger starts our journey. It opens with a kind of fanfare of horns intro followed by acoustic guitar parts that sound like Blood On The Rooftops (Genesis).Excellent synthesizer parts as well to enjoy. All together they tell a story of war which finds its origin in Finnish stories set in 1320. The sound of the instruments very well symbolize the feelings of war. Where Are You? This is a question that arises when a friend, a loved one who can be of support to us during our life's journey, passes away. In other words this is a personal and melancholy search linked to a loss or an absence. Music wise it starts with beautiful flute parts. At first the song is rather mellow. Later on it gets more up tempo and features excellent guitar and synthesizer solos. One of my favourites on the album without any doubt. Omnis Saltat Ad Solem is about the exploration of collectivity and shared joy. How we analyze a human aspect in which we are decidedly lacking today, the common spirit that forms the genesis of humanity and that makes us stronger. It is musically here represented by a song in which dance unites everyone. You can hear in the danceable music, but there are also parts which show the more relaxed moments in life. It has beautiful Mike Oldfield kind a guitar parts. Blood And Oblivion is about internal conflict and redemption. When you get older your memory fades. This is what happened to a person in the year 1000. He was a despicable person and has killed many people but his mind becomes sick with old age and he no longer remembers anything. Who is he now, for the victims, for justice, for God and for those who love him? Yogi Lang (RPWL) sings perfectly how this man feels when he can't remember anything anymore. Music wise this track belongs to the absolute highlights on the album. It contains awesome synth solos. But also a jazzy guitar solo next to beautiful acoustic guitar parts. Lo Prometido Es Deuda is about a spiritual pilgrimage in which you are in search of a purpose. It is clear that in life the departure or arrival at the goal is not important, rather it is the journey. It is very well symbolized in the music by the use of beautiful violin parts next to great acoustic guitar contributions. To give it a real progressive rock sound solos are included on the organ, synthesizer and guitar. Mary The Jewess is about an immersion in knowledge and transformation. The song is well sung by Nick Markham and where the courageous deeds of Maria of ancient times are narrated, in which the will to assert herself towards man is appreciable. It opens with strong organ parts. Again beautiful acoustic guitar parts and solos on the guitar and synth giving it sometimes a neo prog feeling. Other times it also reminded me of Jethro Tull. Luonto Puhuu is a return to the origins and connection with nature. Here you can enjoy beautiful female vocals by Paula Pörsti (Pörsti's daughter) singing in the Finnish language. It features excellent parts performed on whistles, guitar and synthesizers. Sea And Sky ends the album in a rather mellow mood. It is about the sense of resolution and harmony, suggesting the achievement of a union or inner peace. The track features singer John Wilkinson next guitarist Tony Riveryman and flautist Giovanni Mazzotti. All of them giving excellent performances! Most of all the guitar solo is breathtaking! After listing to this album several times it is easy to say that Gathering Of Souls has a more progressive rock influences compared to past albums. On the previous two releases the folk parts took the upper hand. Therefore it is in my humble opinion the best album The Guildmaster has released so far. And when it is again housed in a breathtaking album cover you can't ask for more I guess. It comes in a splendid and refined hardcover edition that opens into three parts with drawings by Ed Unitsky. The rich twenty-page booklet also includes his artwork and contains descriptions, photos and texts. Just excellent! So I can only say thanks to Rafael Pacha, Kimmo Pörsti, Marco Bernard, Alessandro Di Benedetti and their many guests for creating an excellent album. An album which gave me so much musical pleasure. Musical pleasure I want to share with as many lovers of progressive rock as possible. Because Gathering Of Souls is an album that meets the musical requirements that you would like to hear on an album that meets our musical genre. Lots of great solos on the guitars and synthesizers. Never a dull moment! Therefore highly recommended. You will not regret it I can tell you. And if you like your daily progressive rock mixed with folk influences you will have great time listing to this amazing album! **** Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
