Alarion is a project from Dutch guitar player (and a lot of other instruments) Bas Willemsen. He invited a bunch of guests to shape the sound in his head and amongst them are known names as Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace) and Irene Jansen (Star One, Ayreon) as well as a load of friends.
The album contains 11 tracks and almost an hour of music. From short to epic, from furious to serene and everything in between. Opener Chains Of The Collective will give you an idea of what to expect. Heavy riffing paired with the mighty voice of Wilson, and then a chorus that reaches out and grabs your attention with a keen melody. It is a good thing that melodies prove to be important in his music as often they serve as a thread to hold on to, between the madness or the grandiose. Because another influence is classical music, so big is a word that applies here.
So while sometimes a lot is happening, creating a somewhat nervous surrounding, before you know it you are hit by another beautiful piece or fragment. Over time your relation with this album will deepen, a feature we have come to expect from the genre. By all means an attractive album, especially for a debut.
