Sometimes I just can't imagine how much patience someone must have in order to pull out a huge piece of work. And what a finer example can I bring in mind than this album? Mattis Sorum has to be one of the happiest persons in this world - especially when he takes the time and looks at what kind of album he manages to deliver to the audiences. You see, it's not a daily phenomenon to be having in your hands an album lasting roughly more than two hours and including the participation of more than two dozen of musicians. Only for that, Mattis is automatically included in my cool people book. A Sleeper's Awakening is a concept album based on the life of a character who after a long period of thought takes a step back and evaluates all his mistakes in life. All these are somehow blended alongside the seven deadly sins. Nice… so what kind of music are we talking about? Well, apparently this is not a Grind Death album. This is an exceptional mixture of 70's Prog Rock and current Prog Rock. There is an even simpler description: a Norwegian Ayreon project. Though this album carries the mathematic precision of progressive music, the use of analog keyboards (quite extensively I must say) and of many classical organs gives in a really warm sound, creating a comfortable feeling for the listener that helps the extensive listening (remember, this is a 2 hour long work). Speaking of duration, I was very happy to come to the conclusion that there is not a single average work in this album. I can't recall the last time I was not bored listening to something for so long. Mattis did an excellent job adopting a 70's Rock sound and adopting it in the current scene's perspective. I can't imagine how hard the whole process might have been for him but we (the listeners) are very lucky for his patience. Nothing more to say - this is a great piece of work that will make all Prog / Art Rock fans happy. Once again, Unicorn Records deliver…
Tracklist:
Disc 1
Prologue The King & his Land pt. I The Gate of Lost Souls Pride - The Path of Thorns Envy pt. I - In Shadow Envy pt. II - Broken Glass Wrath pt. I - A Wandering in the Dark Wrath pt. II - The Beast Within Gluttony - Corrosion of Flesh
Disc 2
Sloth pt. I - Retrospective Visions Sloth pt. II - Red Sunset & a Drowning Fly Greed pt. I - The Golden Path Greed pt. II - Warning not Heard Lust pt. I - The Temptress of Unchastity Lust pt. II - A Sleeper?s Awakening The King & his Land pt. II - Pensiveness
Lineup:
Mattis S?rum - Electric and acoustic guitars, el-sitar, keyboards & orchestra arrangements Tomas di Sansimone - Drums Idar Eidsaune - Bass Paal Selsjord Bj?rseth - Piano, organ on Pride pt. I, II & Wrath pt. I, harpsichord on Pensiveness Per Christian J?rstad - Cello Synne Teiseth Norbeck - Flute Staale Storl?kken - Synthsolo on Pride pt. II, Envy pt. I, Wrath pt. II, Sloth pt. II & Greed pt. II Sigrid Inderberg - Flute on Envy pt. I Hanna Haugan - Cello on Once there was a king pt. I & Greed pt. II Arild Sveum - Soundscape on The King and his Land pt. I
Voices: Petter Selliseth - Lead vocal & voice on prologue Ingrid Strid - Sings on Pride pt. I, Envy pt. I, Gluttony, Greed pt. I & Lust pt. II Lise Granden Berg - Sings on Envy pt. I, Greed pt. I, Lust pt I & II Gry Tronslien - Sings on Pride pt. I, Wrath pt. II & Sloth pt. II Eva Marianne Olsson - Sings on Pride pt. I & Greed pt. II Stian Leknes - Growls on Wrath pt. II Mattis S?rum - Choir on Greed pt. II Martin Adams Kvam - Boy's Reading Nina Utbj?r Guldal - Mother's voice