Limb Music presents their new US Power Progressive Metal flame - Exhibition - being a mixture of traditional 80's heavy metal and progressive rock, which will excite fans of both Dream Theater & Iron Maiden... Well, considering this band is "composed" of former Eternity X musicians, could it be any different ? I suppose that Dream Theater & Iron Maiden have a much better "selling image" impact compare to Eternity X - the progressive metal band from New Jersey, disbanded in 1998.

Interestingly, this Sign Of Tomorrow is closer to the progressive side of Brave New World and remains away from the fast track of the British virgin. If you know - or remember - the unique touch of Eternity X, I would say that very few things have really changed : the wonderful guitar & keyboard melodies remains the focus of the music, both instruments "fighting" generally each other and supported by an emotional voice. The singer Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas (ex-Seven Witches) stands between Bruce Dickinson and Geoff Tate. Sometimes he even reminds me ex-Marillion's singer (Fish). His warm voice already impressed me on Seven Witches first album Second War In Heaven and his "alliance" with former Eternity X musicians accentuate his talent as Bobby enlightens each track. There is absolutely no doubt the guy improved his vocals since he left (?) Seven Witches.

The opener - Before The End Of Time - reminds me Queensrÿche and Fates Warning (early years), the progressive elements dominating the structure of the song. The second track - Strange Reality - also confirm this "trend" : their are very close to Queensrÿche and quite far from Dream Theater (?). Wings Of The Dragon, with its "Scandinavish" keyboard melodies, emphasizes the power metal side of the band. The title track, The Sign Of Tomorrow, also accentuate the power side of the US band.

The seventh track - Queen Of Pain - is another great song, a kind of mixture between Iron Maiden & Queensrÿche. This song highlights the "complex structures" overlapping each others. I recommend you to check this one, along with the first two songs if you are interested in this type of music. The rest of the album is also very well performed, but Queen Of Pain reminds me so much the Powerslave album of Iron Maiden.

Exhibition doesn't fall in the "fast food music" category : play, biggest and throw away. Many spins are required to enter inside this complex music world. Actually, it is a long time we haven't the chance to compare an album to the great ... Queensrÿche. Two thumbs up. A very promising debut album ... even though Exhibition need to grow and leave behind its direct influence as a taste of "self-repeat" appear at the end of the record. The bird hasn't left yet the nest ...

This band deserve a decent promotion campaign. Here at metalreviews.com, we are still waiting for the promo. Once again with Limb Music !!! That was also the case for Invictus, Wizard, Burning Point, Galloglass, Gun Barrel ... Exhibition :-((

I suppose that the horse coming from Phonag Records AG carrying the promos hasn't found its way to our town Geneva (Switzerland) ... yet !!! Actually, it is more than a year we are waiting for that ... horse :-)