Mind's Eye
A Gentleman's Hurricane Lion Music

by Franco Wissa
Staff Writer

Comments: Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime, Derdian's New Era, Part I and II, Pink Floyd's The Wall and Rush's 2112 raised the art of concept CDs to an art form. To carry on the tradition of such works is Mind's Eye's A Gentleman's Hurricane. The premise - an assassin, (Adam Evangalista) who after carrying out one murderous job after another, and overcome with guilt, seeks refuge in a church, where he meets a retired priest, (Father Caverello Di Morri) After confessing his past to this kindly stranger, the priest turns out, has a few sins of his own to share. With only a few days left until his next (and supposedly final) "job" the assassin and the priest forge an unlikely friendship while each clears their conscience.

Formed in 1992 by Johann Niemann and Daniel Flores, Mind's Eye raised from the ashes of Afterglow, released their debut Into The Unknown in 1997. A Gentleman's Hurricane the band's sixth studio release also features a companion DVD that chronicles the making of their latest release and in the triple pack is also a comic book that outlines the story.

The terrifying introduction "Praying For Confession," starts with only the sounds of shuffling footsteps, an opening door, the turning on of a water faucet and the words…"Life is such a ridiculous word when you think about it, eventually we all take life for granted, and only when you take that last gasp of air do we realize the simplicity of seeing, fearing, feeling, hearing, smelling and tasting life. And death …death conquers us all …." And with it is some of the most bone chilling, frightening piano, vocal and orchestral arrangements that has been heard of late. After a brief synthesizer riff one cymbal crash after another keeps perfect time with the pulsating vocals that then lets loose into a searing guitar solo, that raises the depth and pitch of this colossal intro to even further heights to the point that makes the listener feel that his feet will never again touch ground. Sounds and sentiment are abound here as the music swirls around you, and one can feel of this person who in cold blood has taken life, and now wracked with guilt is overcome with emotion. You are pushed into this track, and within seconds you feel as if you are standing next two these two unlikely friends and feel of the stress that would be present should such a conversation take place. With just 12 seconds left comes a dialogue between the assassin and the priest … "Forgive me Father for I have sinned…" "When was your last confession as a child?" "Never, for this is my first ... "

After track one the remainder of the CD are flashbacks of the killer and priest's lives with each telling a story in various periods of their individual lives and of how they came to the point where they are now. Track 2, "Seven Days," quickly shows the premise with the lyrics "…of what kind of monster I am," "… killing is how I stay alive…" and " I am always paid enough to make things worthwhile …" No sounds are off limits here. Slightly off key machine gun guitar riffs sprinkled throughout this electrifying story assist in hitting the feeling of this track even more, making one feel of the chaos that is in the heart of this now repentant killer. "Seven Days," is monstrous in its construction, and the excellent use of amplifying of the drums where you hear EVERY cymbal crash and use of each aerial and floor tom, bass drum and snare.

The synthesizers and electric and acoustic guitars with hushed vocals start track 3, "AssassiNation." This track goes from mid-tempo to hard and melodic rocker and at 2:09 is this escalating "ladder" of keyboards and guitar that brings "AssissiNation" to even bigger heights than how it started.

"My son, why won't you see the light in Heaven," "I'd rather go to Hell than serve in Heaven Father," opens "Hells Invitation," a melodic progressive rocker that is easier on the ears than the tracks up to this point. The vocals are used as riffs here as in the background are guitars, bass and drums that are used for accompaniment only. Evil laughs can be heard intermittently and this gives the killer for the first time a sarcastic, non-caring attitude. However what did bring this track down slightly was that the machine gun guitars got in the way of the mid track guitar solo from really being heard. It might have been better to tune down the riffs during the periods of the solo. At 4:59 things slow down and at 5:03 the piano and vocals give a fine buildup as things come to close, with a single power chord bringing the track to an end.

"Ashes to Ashes (In Land Lullaby)" with the start of a baby crying and the child's concerned mother fools the listener into thinking that a ballad is coming, but quickly is one punched in the face with a huge production of never ending guitars, keyboards and quick drums. Psychedelic vocals that sing of "the sandman," give way to searing guitar solos. Things get strange when at 5:28 one hears a telephone ring, and an assignment to the killer "… get rid of her, she talks to much …" A knock at a door opens track 8, "The Hour Of Need," and the person they were talking about in "Ashes To Ashes" comes to light, "Hi, I'm Norman Jean." With the most callous tone imaginable comes, "Enchanting, just take your clothes off will you …" However, whose lover is this? Pay close attention to the lyrics of the next 3 tracks. Each open slowly but build with intensity as it tells the story. Track 12, "Say Goodnight," is a blistering metal rocker that only gets more elaborate with the background drums and hood laden guitar and keyboard riffs that are everywhere.

The closing track, "Pandora's Musical Box," ties the CD all together that excellently provokes the listener to imagine what the feeling was in the room between killer and priest. At 8:59 into this 10:57 huge rocker, things slow down, the music become almost dream-like, and comes the bone-chilling, disturbing and unsettling conclusion with the words "death comes to us all …" and then the sounds tearing tape, muffled words and gunfire erupts … the conclusion will spellbound the listener.

At times terrifying at others suspenseful and still others heartbreaking, A Gentleman's Hurricane, would make a superb film, with the musical score heard here as a soundtrack. This is a true CD that demands one to do NOTHING else. At times the words are hard to make out as the lyrics are sometimes buried in the music. But for the lovers of gripping storylines between two unlikely allies, it does not get better than heard here.

www.lionmusic.com

Band members:
Andrea Novak - vocals
Johan Niemann - bass and electric guitar
Daniel Flores - drums, keyboards, string musical arrangements

Musical Guests

Mia Coldhert - vocals on "The Hour Of Need"
Tommy Denander - additional guitars, keyboards
Rolf Pilotti - piccolo, slide flute, vocals
Doyle McGraw - warpipes
Johannes Lindstrom, David Risberg - additional vocals

Track listing:
Praying For Confession
Seven Days
AssassiNation
Chaos Unleashed
Hell's Invitation
Feed My Revolver
Ashes to Ashes (In Land Lullaby)
The Hour Of Need
Red Winter Sirens
Skin Crawl
Graveyard Hands
Say Goodnight
Pandora's Musical Box

HRH rating: 9.9/10