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The Sea Within: The Sea Within
The Sea Within 2018 Self-titled Debut Music Review

The Sea Within: The Sea Within

Melodic Progressive Rock
4.0/5.0

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Inside Out Music
Releasing: 22.06.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.06.2018

When guitarist and prog rock hero Roine Stolt says he wants to start a new band, people who love prog rock take notice. I did. I love his guitar style and most every band he's been involved with. The wise ones at Inside Out Music gave Stolt the green light and The Sea Within took form. With Stolt, the band features well know prog luminaries including bassist Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, et al), keyboard player/vocalist Tom Brislin (Yes, Renaissance, et al), drummer/vocalist Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, et al), and vocalist/guitarist Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation). For live shows, vocalist Casey McPherson (Flying Colors), who sings on three songs for the album, will handle the microphone. Guests on the album include Jon Anderson (vocals, Broken Cord), Jordan Rudess (grand piano, The Hiding of Truth), and Rob Townsend (soprano saxophone,The Ashes of Dawn).

The Sea Within Click For Larger Photo

The Sea Within

Needless to say, when you get smart and creative fellows such as these together to compose, you're going to get some interesting progressive rock. There's much to listen to over two CDs, 12 songs, and 76 minutes. Rather than boring you with some detailed analysis of every song, let me point out some observations and highlights. One of the recurring musical themes I found was a tone of melancholic sadness in some songs, including Broken Cord (featuring Jon Anderson), The Void, Time, and Denise. That last song has to be one of the saddest break up songs I've ever heard (Right up there with Mary Chapin Carpenter's When She's Gone.)

But on a more positive and up beat note, consider the lively and spry An Eye For An Eye For An Eye. In the front and back ends you get, essentially, a fast rocker led by the bass and drums. In the middle you get a slower breakdown with a provocative and delightful portion of prog jazz fusion featuring bass, piano, and guitar. Some melancholy comes again with the piano line for paranoia? inspired They Know My Name. Yet the song also rises in the chorus with stronger riffs and an expressive bass line. The final mention goes to Ashes Of Dawn, simply for the killer sax solo, and also because it's a classic prog song with diverse parts.

When you consider the depth of talent and experience of the players, The Sea Within's debut album arrives as expected, packed full of inventive and entertaining melodic rock. But take a few spins to digest it, you'll need it. Recommended.




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The Bottom Line

When you consider the depth of talent and experience of the players, The Sea Within's debut album arrives as expected, packed full of inventive and entertaining melodic rock. But take a few spins to digest it, you'll need it. Recommended.

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