Classic Rock Start Page Album Review
Only 4 tracks on this album, that's it? Yes, but hold on: Morse's creativity has no limits, so it seems. Two tracks of 25 minutes ("The Conflict") and more ("The Door"), one track of 16 minutes ("The Conclusion") and a "little" one of 5 minutes called "Heaven In My Heart", gives us a 76 minutes-masterpiece.
Again, this album has a concept, like most of its predecessors. Based upon the German Augustinian monk Martin Luther
Then the album itself: "The Door" comes in like a rocking hurricane, bombastic, with a lot of power, also with easy parts, but always there's Gilbert's rocking guitar, cleverly layered around the various themes Morse composed. Morse also brings in his guitar and some interesting guitarduels take place.
Brings us to the last part of the album, the 16 minute-piece "The Conclusion", and there Morse features on his synth. Beginning with a sharp keyboardsolo in "Randy's Jam", and then returning to the beginning themes of "The Door", the song gives the listener some of the best virtuosity that the band members got: Morse, Portnoy, George and Gilbert "manhandle" their instruments and bring the album to a superb end.
Another progrock-masterpiece from the hands of Neal Morse, I can't find other words for it. The only thing that's "changed" is the addition of a real hardrocking guitar, and to me it gives the album a new fresh Morse-sound. It seems that his creativity has no end, so "Sola Scriptura" is again a must for the progrock-lovers. I'm already looking forward to the next Neal Morse-album!
NEAL MORSE - Sola Scriptura
1. The Door 29:14
I) Introduction
II) In The Name Of God
III) All I Ask For
IV) Mercy For Sale
V) Keep Silent
VI) Upon The Door
2. The Conflict 25:00
I) Do You Know My Name?
II) Party To The Lie
III) Underground
IV) Two Down, One To Go
V) The Vineyard
VI) Already Home
3. Heaven In My Heart 5:11
4. The Conclusion 16:34
I) Randy's Jam
II) Long Night's Journey
III) Re-introduction
IV) Come Out Of Her
V) Clothed With The Sun
VI) In Closing...
© 2007 InsideOut Music
Neal Morse e-mail: nealmorse@nealmorse.com
Neal Morse website: www.nealmorse.com
Rock with progressive music gives progrock... But I wouldn't say progrock is the right word for this new Neal Morse-album. "Sola Scriptura" gives more than that. Oh yes, we hear those typical Morse-arrangements, beautiful choirs and background-singing, but there's more. On this album Morse introduces us to guitarist Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), and he gives the album some real hardrock-passages. This man really can do something with the guitar. And again there are Morse's "old" friends, bassist Randy George and masterdrummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). No introduction needed.
"The Conflict" carries on the same way where "The Door" begins. Bombastic, cool hardrocking and full of powerguitars. Where are those beautiful Morse-keyboardsounds? Further in the song they return in typical Morse-arrangements, just really nice to listen to.
"Heaven In My Heart" is the piano based, only ballad on the album. Does it belong here? According to Neal Morse: yes. He explains: "I initially thought the album would be perfect with just the three long pieces but then I got the feeling that something was missing. So I sat down at the piano and tried to put myself in Luther's situation when he was in his cell at Worms waiting for the court trial. For me he's a shining example of someone who was convinced by his case and who fully dedicated himself to it, knowing that it might cost him his life. And this is eventually the point of the album".
Review by: Clemens Steenweg, February 2007