Wheel Of Time - Asymmetry (CD 2025, 51:19, Private Release) The tracks:   1- Grand Cosmos (ft. Derek Sherinian) (6:40)   2- Freedom Day (ft. Derek Sherinian & Michele Luppi) (5:40)   3- Blind Sight (ft. Alexandre Aposan) (6:52)   4- Addicted!... (ft. Derek Sherinian & Timo Tolkki) (4:45)   5- To the Awakening (ft. Tom MacLean) (7:12)   6- The Night Of Eternity (ft. Derek Sherinian) (7:38)   7- China Moon (5:03)   8- 2063 (ft. Tony MacAlpine) (6:44) samples      facebook      Asymmetry is the debut album of the prog metal project Wheel Of Time, which is in fact Chinese multi-instrumentalist and composer Jimmie Hong; who is assisted by a couple of excellent musicians, like Derek Sherinian (keyboards), Tony MacAlpine (guitar), Timo Tolkki (guitar) and Michele Luppi (vocals). The music on Asymmetry is a mix of prog metal, power metal and Eastern melodic elements, with obvious influences from bands like Metallica, Queensrÿche, Angra, Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Opeth and Symphony X. Grand Cosmos opens the album and what a fantastic opener it is indeed, bombastic, power metal with outstanding keyboards walls and melodies from Sherinian. Freedom Day is an anthem like track with no one less than Michele Luppi on vocals, while Addicted! is 100% pure energy and due to the impressive guitar solo of Timo Tolkki, this one- melodic power metal - truly reminds us of good old Stratovarius. China Moon, with Eastern melodic elements galore, features vocals by Eszter Vegvari and it is a bittersweet ballad with lots of orchestral musical elements, but definitely too corny and sweet for my taste.... the odd one out on the album! The final track 2063 is an instrumental track and it features no one less than guitarist Tony MacAlpine and for me this is one of the highlights of the album. Asymmetry is a very decent prog/power metal album and if you are a fan of the aforementioned bands then you might give this album a chance indeed. Play it LOUD. Listening tip: Grand Cosmos! ***+ Martien Koolen (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy?