Metaphor CD Review

Ladder from the sky (6:53)
Chaos with a crown of gold (5:58)
Starfooted in a garden of cans (15:04)
The illusion of flesh (2:07)
In the cave (9:13)
Seed (10:09)
The bridal chamber ( 2:42)
Don't sleep (9:00)
Battle of the archons (10:24)
Assumption (2:19)

Metaphor Homepage : http://www.metaphor.org/
Record company: http://www.galileo-records.com/

These days, I'm very glad to say; the Gabriel era Genesis is generally recognised as "The Classic" era and the Collins era as generally disposable pop (especially after the departure of Hackett). This has lead to the rise of a number of Genesis tribute bands, most notably 'Re-Genesis' here in England and 'Musical Box' from North America. Metaphor, originating from San Francisco, also started life as one of these tribute bands.

Starfooted is Metaphors debut release. However, instead of releasing an album of Genesis covers like other tribute bands (Although I love seeing Re-Genesis live what really is the point of that?) Metaphor have chosen to put aside Genesis covers and write and release their own concept album. Now where Genesis concentrated on ancient Greek mythology for their early inspirations Metaphor have used the relatively unknown mythos of Gnosticism (http://www.metaphor.org/myth.html ).

The music? Well, as you would guess, its as if we were back in the very early 70s - Genesis with a new vocalist and a lost album, mostly recorded somewhere between Trespass and Nursery Cryme and finished off between Foxtrot and Selling England.

The album does have a lot of plus points - A good vocalist (John Mabry), which is unfortunately a rare modern prog commodity and good musicianship, at least equal to the complexity of very early Genesis in composition and playing. They have taken that brave step to try and break away from being just another tribute band and have concentrated their sound on the very early Genesis era as distinct from Neo Prog which just tend to regurgitate the later Classic and early Collins work. The minus point - Where's the progression??

To end - If you love early Genesis or even the first couple of Marillion releases and want more then this album is for you. If, as I always try to, your looking for something new, something truly "progressive" in rock then wait there's a lot to recommend these individual musicians and I'm sure by the time of their next release Metaphor will have found their own voice - I look forward with interest.

Ian Oakley May 2000

Ian, thanks for the Metaphor review in Bathtub of Adventures. I think you gave us a fair, critical look. It's kind of funny, really, that I feel likeI've had 30 years of classic symphonic prog rock built up inside of me and it was all released on Starfooted! I'm happy to confirm for you that our new material (and I've got a full CD's worth already) is indeed a progression,away from the strong genesis influence and more in our own style. It's a bit more agressive, with more complex interplay of instruments in the melodies...I'm not quite done with symphonic yet (man, I love those big keyboard chords!) but the new stuff will be a marked departure for Metaphor. I am anxious to get it recorded and out, but that'll be some time.