I have a Korean vinyl pressing - don't think there's a vinyl issue anywhere else worldwide - of Magellan's Hour Of Restoration (1991) debut album. I'm not - I can assure you - the Progressive Metal/Rock type of guy. I could never understand why songs have to be over 6 minutes (including intros, interludes etc) or why so many rhythms had to be added to the basic riff, which no longer existed since then. Still, in every rule there's en exception. Hence, Shadow Gallery and Magellan are personal likings in a way I don't - and don't care to - understand.
Since the Hour Of Restoration album, Magellan have released four more albums notable to the followers of this peculiar kind of Progressive Rock/Metal. The sailors - as I like to call this respected outfit - have the unique characteristic (or should I say charisma?) to create a fictional musical journey through a guitar chord or key harmony so simple but yet so how the hell did they come up with that?.  They are the Gardner brothers - Trent on lead vocals & keyboards and Wayne on guitars and bass.
The efficiency of these two excellent musicians seems influenced by the 70s masterpieces of Genesis, Asia or Gentle Giant. Oh, also Marillion's velvet calmness will easily come to mind with the first hearing of Symhony For A Misanthrope. Featured in many tracks is none other than ex-Good Rats skinsman Joe Franco, an excellent drummer also famous for his participation in the 1987 Twisted Sister Love Is For Suckers lineup. His contribution - mainly, in pomp parts of the songs - is invaluable. A real Prog drummer - in mind.
A set of seven tunes - one better than the other - where emotions and ecstasy of experience cross the paths of endless hallucinations. An organized structure in each track, on purpose flexible to attach any eerie idea at hand. There's more darkness everywhere - even more than in any other previous effort - but a light at the end of the tunnel usually wraps up each song, be it the symphonic Symphonette (weird...) or the majestic Cranium Reef Suite.
Not to forget: Steve Walsh contributes the keyboard parts in Symphonette and Robert Berry (a non-familiar name to me, sorry...) fills the drum parts anywhere Joe Franco's not in.
The usual Magellan movie theme trademark is clearly present in e.g. parts of Why Water Weeds?, while the ghost of Genesis - mainly - is the fellow traveler on this quest for sanity, this 2005 brainchild of a band that never showed any kind of interest in fame and fortune in the Music Business.
It takes time and hard work to create so multidimensional ideas, you need purity in mind and serenity in spirit to evaluate, to develop, to extend. To Prog-act...
Symphony For A Misanthrope is not an easy album. Yet, if you let yourself accept the passion for mind hunt you'll only have benefits. Just one scale down compared to Hour Of Restoration, it's worthwhile to patiently wait for the next (every time) release of this artistic band. I feel mature with Magellan, even if - as prementioned - I ain't no Prog fan after all.
- Album Highlight: The departure...