(Progressive Metal) [CD] Fifth Season - Journey Through an Open Mind - 1997, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This band are the continuation of the greatest British progressive/thrash metal act Inner Sanctum who, unfortunately, never managed to break into the mainstream and get the well deserved recognition. Under this second moniker their spell with the metal scene was very short-lived, but it still produced some fine moments for the progressive metal fans to enjoy. The album reviewed here is the most known product from the guys’ short discography, and sees them toning down the more aggressive riffage from the Inner Sanctum efforts, opting for a clearer progressive metal sound along the lines of Sieges Even’s “Steps” and Fates Warning’s “Perfect Symmetry”, with a few edgier moments recalling acts like Inner Strength, Catharsis, and Zero Hour.
“Shadows of Hope” opens the album with jarring jumpy riffs and splices of quiet balladic vistas this contrasting symbiosis working fine, masterfully supervised by the excellent emotional clean vocals. “A Little Rain” is “a little” bit of the same, may be a tad more dynamic, also reflected in a couple of vivid semi-gallops, and with more frequent melodic embellishments some of them coming from the proficient lead department. “Tomorrow’s Conscience” explores the more lyrical ways of execution, and “Voice for Insecurity” speeds up with more aggressive, more vivid guitars with moments from the 90’s power/speed metal movement crossing “swords” with labyrinthine, complex arrangements some of them even recalling early Psychotic Waltz. “Of Profit to the Wise” tries something more romantic and balladic again, but more intense shreds emerge before long to give this composition a more hard-hitting character despite the circling more retrospective sections; some of the more brutal riffs in the second half are a great nod to the earlier recordings served with a covert thrashy flavour.
“Again” preserves the more intense tone moshing in an acceptable semi-speed/thrashy fashion with hectic breaks rolling from all sides with echoes of Watchtower’s “Control & Resistance”, and great melodic lead dashes those hitting the top with their inspired virtuoso-prone application. “Age of Light” is a more moderate progressive saga with stylish Zero Hour-esque swirls and warmer shades ala the mentioned Fates Warning opus, a diverse masterpiece with outstanding vocal performance also providing a great memorable chorus. “Birth of Acquisition” is a mazey, multi-faceted number with sharp lashing riffs those reminiscent of the US power metal movement (think Crimson Glory, Helstar), but more complexity is introduced later with echoes of Sieges Even and Watchtower again, the bass making a nice funky showing amongst the engaging dense rifforamas which are quite close to thrash, the alleviating balladisms bringing things back to normal, but only for a bit. “Enemy Unseen” is sustained in a similar vein the guys producing another smattering blend of aggressive rhythms and atmospheric progressions the former forming a stupendous thrashy knot in the middle that would even make Coroner and Deathrow stop and listen in wonder; watch out also for the surreal lead-driven speedy crescendo in the second half that adds up to this piece’s lasting, genre-transcending appeal.
This is another brilliant recording that nearly matches the grandeur of Inner Sanctum’s “Questions” EP. It’s a natural evolution from its more thrash-fixated style by also preserving some of its belligerent nature, achieving a seamless blend between said vestiges and the more melodic progressive developments. Unlike Sieges Even on “Steps”, the transition is more smooth and less radical, first because the Germans’ arsenal was more aggressive and more thrash-fixated, and second because the English team were not intent on experimenting and straying too far from the more conventional progressive metal formula. Consequently the Inner Sanctum fans were all kept happy the band also looking for wider exposure and wider audience…
A quest that continued under two more forms, first as The Thinking Principle which was an even shorter-lived formation with only two demos released; and later as Synaptik, the guys’ current occupation, who already have two full-lengths released including a freshly unleashed one (“Justify & Reason”). That latter act’s style is interesting progressive power/thrash which by all means has its moments, and should ensure the guys a spot on the front row of British metal in the new millennium. It’s just that once a formidable presence like the fifth season goes away, a considerable portion of the genius and the talents of its progenitors remains within its realm… to be made available during its next manifestation.
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John Knight Vocals
David Ray Guitars
Kevin Jackson Bass
Jed Dawkins Drums