*. Kenso .* (SHM-CD Japan Remaster 2012)

Album: Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis (2002)(SHM-CD Remaster 2012)
Genre: Prog Rock (Jazz Rock Fusion/Symphonic Prog)  /  Japan

CD 7 - Kenso Complete Box (2012)

I enjoyed their "Dream Hill" release,but to be honest it didn't do a lot for me. So my expectations weren't that high for this one. They had me right where they wanted me. Haha. To compare the two albums is like comparing black & white to colour. This is so much more dynamic, I couldn't believe it was the same band. It's like they have totally let go of anything that was holding them back. "Fist Of Fury" sounds like a Prog-Metal song. Fantastic scorching guitar as drums pound away so crisply and bass throbs. Some good organ from Kenichi who has guested on a RUINS album. Check it out after 3 minutes as the tempo picks up and the synths come in. The guitar is back 4 1/2 minutes in. "The Cunning Madrigal" opens with a pleasant melody before a dark and heavy sound comes in. This is incredible ! Again, I can't believe this is the same band.The guitar is beautiful, as is the organ before 2 minutes. It gets brighter sounding 3 minutes in like the intro. "Prelude To Concealment" features more heaviness. The drums and organ are great ! A change 1 1/2 minutes in as we hear a vocal melody and percussion. More splendid guitar. "Wooden Horse Pathos" again puts the spotlight on the organ and guitar as drums pound away with precision. A calm with piano is brief, and it is followed up with some blistering guitar. "The Split Gate" takes a minute to really get going. Light drums slowly beat as synths and percussion? take turns.The song gets more aggressive before 3 minutes as guitar comes in. Nice. It calms back down after 5 minutes. "Rebellion" is a great tune. The first 3 minutes make me feel good with the pounding drums and tasteful angular guitar melodies. Then they turn it up a notch for as the guitar becomes more prominant and organ shines as well. "The Stairs For Dreaming" is a reflective acoustic guitar piece. "Echoes From Romano" reminds me of CAMEL until the pulsating synths come in. A full sound arrives 1 1/2 minutes in. "The Daughter Of A Recluse" features Eastern sounding synths? in this pleasant tune. "A Way Of Living As Taro" is another good one. An uptempo song with what sounds like vibes. The drums and bass are really well done. "Doppelganger In The Night" opens with what sounds like Hendrix on the axe. Guitar and keys intertwine the rest of the way. "Isolated Jiro" sounds like a ZEPPELIN outake. Nice and heavy with guitar leading the way. "The Understanding" is a short mellow tune that ends strongly. "A Grim Diary" opens with bass and drums before the guitar angles it's way in if you know what I mean. This is incredible ! Just a great, heavy rhythm to this one. Piano comes in and then some vocals after 4 1/2 minutes. Some nice keyboard melodies as the drums intricately beat to end the song. "Amalgamation Of Self And Others" closes the album with gentle keys and some odd sounds. 
Review by "Mellotron Storm" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  9 / 10   **Marvellous**  FANTASTIC SOUND QUALITY

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