• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Twenty3Fifty9: The Count, Act 1

Progressive Rock

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Independent/Self-promotion
www.t3f9.com
www.myspace.com/twenty3fifty9
Review: Craig Hartranft,  09.07.2009

If you think the only music that comes out of Texas may be blues, country, or death metal, then I've got some news for you. The Lone Star State is home to a very intriguing and impressive progressive rock band by the name of Twenty3Fifty9, an allusion to 'one minute to midnight.' Formed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2005, T3F9 has been developing and playing their first act of Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, a grand tale and certainly one of my favorites. When not playing The Count, Act I The Soul of a Prisoner during their shows, they fill the set with covers of Dream Theater, Kansas, and Iron Maiden. The influences are obvious within The Count bringing an epic sound to an epic tale of love, loss and political intrigue.

T3F9 are classic progressive rockers telling a profound tale using sweeping arrangements. Call this a very large homage to 70's prog because T3F9 do not venture far from their historic roots. The songs rely on creative compositions with superb musicianship from clean soaring guitar, proactive bass lines, and a lush use of keyboards throughout. Indeed, the musical craftsmanship, from the lyrical base to the song composition, of The Count is preeminent and profound: a huge amount of thought and creativity went into this album. Remarkable cuts include the deeply emotional Betrayed, the intriguing and diverse Conspirators, and the moving Awaiting Justice. If there are any drawbacks to The Count, it would be in the vocal performance. Jeff Beardsley, though quite passionate, can be quite trying as he sounds somewhere between a nasal groan and whine. To my ears, I'm not really sure if he can sing.

Twenty3Fifty9 are already working on the next part of their The Count of Monte Cristo musical tale. If this work is any indication, it will be equally as profound and entertaining. Until then, you'll just have to settle for The Count Act 1, and I strongly encourage you to get your copy.

With The Count, Act I, Texas classic progressive rockers Twenty3Fifty9 have created a profound and entertaining musical tale fitting for the epic story of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]