With a line-up consisting of DC Cooper (ex- Royal Hunt, now Silent Force) on vocals, Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) on guitars, keyboards & vocals, Kurt Barabas (Under The Sun) on bass and Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard) on drums, we can surely call Amaran’s Plight a (progressive) supergroup.
It was at the end of the 90s that Gary Wehrkamp and DC Cooper worked together for the first time. In 1998 DC Cooper appeared as guest vocalist on the epic track “New World Order” from Shadow Gallery’s concept album “Tyranny” and word has it that the fans of this progressive rock band have longed for a Wehrkamp/Cooper co-operation ever since.
With Amaran’s Plight and their debut album “Voice In The Light”, the fans’ pleas have finally been answered. The album is based on the novel “Voice In The Light” by John W. Crawford, who also contributed as lyricist and musical director. According to the enclosed biography, “it’s about the journey into a man’s life and the mystery surrounding his near death experience. As a teenager, he falls into an icy lake and dies. He receives a mysterious message from the other side, which manifests itself late in his life. Though his life is turbulent, tragic and often chaotic, he begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together, which ultimately ends in him making several difficult decisions. However, his final decision turns out to be a miraculous, supernatural twist of fate that will change the world forever.” The best thing you can do, is listening to this album with the lyrics within reach. They can be found in the colourful 16-page booklet, designed by Moritz Stübig.
Recorded last year at six different studios with the help of additional musicians such as Michael Sadler and Trishia O’Keefe, “Voice In The Light” is one of the best conceptual progressive rock albums I’ve had the pleasure to listen to in quite some time. The storyline is captivating, the 13 (!) songs are memorable and the execution and production (courtesy of Wehrkamp) are fingerlickin’ good. Although you have to listen to this masterpiece as a whole, it’s the longer tracks that really show how strong this band is. “Incident At Haldeman’s Lake” (11:28), “Shattered Drams” (13:24) and “Revelation” (13:10) are all stunning to say the least.
This album arrived while I was away on vacation to the sun-drenched Tuscany and since my homecoming it hasn’t hardly left my CD player. That alone gives away how good it actually is. Absolutely recommended!!! (
CL)
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YNGWIEVIKING
GOOD CD modern PROG/ROCK with members from ROYAL HUNT/SHADOW GALLERY/AYREON/SPOCK'S BEARD/UNDER THE SUN/GENESIS/ALPHA DOG not always easy to catch at the first spin !
banaan
What a treat!
One of my favourite vocalists performing in the vein of one of my favourite bands.
Life is good!!
rkblues
Great CD in every aspect...this is an exceptional debut release by top notch musicians...DC Cooper sounds great and Gary Wehrkamp does an amazing job on guitar & keys...and the icing on the the cake is Nick's killer drums.
Gloobey
Oh dear, here we go again.....
An OK album that fails to deliver consistently for its duration. So-so at best, I am afraid.
WOLF 359
STUNNING
Carl1
Amazing album featuring brilliant playing, songs and production. I haven't been as impressed with a new band for a very long time. This album needs to be listened to a good 6 or 7 times to begin to embed it's brilliance in your brain as it's a real grower and the more you listen the more it reaps rewards. Simply superb stuff and I give it 6 stars.
nikochiko
Excellent album ,D.C Cooper is greet voice.
lawkeeper
A very promising debut of this "superband(?)". Not to heavy and very melodic.
Rob
Not completely convincing i.m.o. Expected a little bit more from this promising line-up.
astonbob
d.c. cooper rules, some good tracks here but it goes up and down to much, but i will give it a few more trys. love coopers other stuff in Silent Force/Royal Hunt & the solo record is the best.
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