Vanishing Point - The Fourth Season

Dec 21, 2003
632
2
18
41
Sudbury, Canada
Vanishing Point – The Fourth Season
Dockyard Records - 2007
By Adam McAuley

TFS.jpg


Rather straightforward orchestrated power metal with a classical edge is what Vanishing Point play, and they do so with slight flair. However, don't expect any mournful supernatural music as the cover might suggest, but rather an upbeat platter. Other than the few orchestral elements found herein, however, this is a fairly standard display. It rises above much generic power metal, but still doesn't do anything particularly interesting. Instead, the melodic approach hooks you, and a slight classical influence injects personality into the mix.

Vanishing Point are a band able to play effectively within the narrow trajectory of power metal, and add just a bit of color to template, but not enough to make them particularly notable. The sound is glossy without being overly pretentious, and allows just enough of the glitz of the sound to shine through. The music is mid-paced, without reaching the speeds of bands like Helloween.. Stellar instrumental musical themes are stressed at times in songs like The Path Of The Unkown, which has a more mellow nature than many of the other songs. To top it off a traditional-sounding vocalist adds colour, but not too much bombast to The Fourth Legacy.

No elements really stand out, but fans of power metal that are just looking for another quality release will find much to like here. The band are just as competent as the majority of their contemporaries.

Official Vanishing Point Website
Official Dockyard1 Records Website
 
I honestly do have to disagree with this review in part.

Vanishing Pointare a powerful and emotive band, with strong song writing and amazing vocal crafting.

But this album is a huge let down after all the power and emotion that wa brought forth in their previous work, Embrace The Silence.

That is not to say it is not an amazing album in its own right -it truly is and well worth the time to listen.
Especially the closing track Day of Difference, which makes excellent use of a sample of Peter Tool's monologue from movie/musical adaptation of Don Quixote, The Man of La Mancha. Very moving.