The ones who are used to read my reviews know perfectly that I have deep concerns about those who try desperately to sound as bands from the past. That's due my personal view: if you can't bring us something different from what was already done, it has no value. This vision was fed for years and years as I was growing from a boy to a man, and it's a truth to me. So bands with their works focused on the past must have a great difficulty: what you can do better than the giants from the past? If we speak about the 70s it becomes worse, because some of those ways to do music have nothing more left to be done.

That's the problem that the English band KNIFEWORLD has to face, and their new album is a clear proof of my words. I heard the same feeling that they use a lot of ways on the past. This mix of Psychedelic Rock with minimalists touches and some catchy parts that were derived from 70s Pop. Of course that their music isn't bad, but it lacks of a more personalized way, because the moldy feeling is present. It's a sin. It's catchy, melodic and tender, but it's nothing new at all..too much of the past, and I believe it's a lack of personality. The sound production was done in a way that their music is clear in the needed way. Even trying to sound a bit as in the past, it got some of the modern clearness, so that sensation of hearing some disc from the past isn't complete. But it makes clear that the album's problem is on the songs themselves! "High/Aflame" has a good work from vocals, but the minimalism makes it boring sometimes, as the "The Germ Inside" has a strong Pop orientation (with good chorus and bass guitars). "The Deathless" was done with some tribal percussions and vocals that shine, but with introspective melodies. Introspection and tender melodies can be heard again on "Vision of the Bent Path", showing a strong work on keyboards, the ethereal and complex "I Must Set Fire to Your Portrait" with a fine presentation of bass guitar and saxophones, and the tender and Progressive orientated "A Dream About a Dream" are proofs that they are truly talented musicians, and know how to write songs. But as I told above: it lacks to expose their musical personality in a better way. Their future can be great or not, they have their cards at hand. Hope they'll find the better way.