Band : Power Quest

Album title : Master Of Illusion

Label : Napalm

Distributor : Hard Life Promotions

Release date : 28/04/2008

Release : CD

When keyboardist Steve Williams left Dragonheart (later known as Dragonforce ) in early 2001, he immediately forged plans to create a new Euro-styled Symphonic Power Metal act. Bassist Steve Scott , also a former Dragonheart member who'd left during 2000 (after the release of the band's demo Valley Of The Damned which would eventually land 'em their deal with Sanctuary ) to join Shadowkeep , was eager enough to join Williams in his new venture. Originally, Williams ' idea was to keep Power Quest a purely Southampton based outfit, but other than guitarist Adam Bickers no other interested musicians could be found within that city. For second guitar duties the band was able to use the services of Sam Totman , yet another former Dragonheart mate, and it's in this line-up that a 2-track demo was recorded in early 2001.

Suggested by the label manager from Underground Symphonies , the band recruited vocalist Alession Garavello (of Arthemis ) in April 2002. When he came over to London to lay down vocal tracks two months later, he was accompanied by Andrea Martongelli , the guitarist of his band, whom was subsequently invited to lay down some guest solos on the recordings for the band's 2002 released (through Underground Symphony ) debut album Wings Of Forever . Impressed with the axeman's capacities, they recruited him into their ranks when Bickman decided to leave in favour of his medical studies. From January to July of 2003, drum duties would be taken care of by Andre Bargmann , his temporary being Gavin Ward (of Last Hours Of Torment ). Preceeding to recordings for sophomore album NeverWorld (released through Now And Then that same year, the album would boast guest appearances from Clive Nolan of Pendragon , Shadowland , Arena , and Jabberwocky fame, plus Edenbridge 's Sabine Eichenbacher on guest vocals; Threshold 's Richard West and Karl Groom on guest keyboards and guitars respectively; and Sam Totman , who'd actually left the outfit prior to the recordings to concentrate on Dragonforce 's increasing activities, also putting in a guest appearance).

Following a UK tour with Intense and Mercury Rain in June of 2004, the band announced their severing of ties with their label, and Ward 's departure in September (in favour of a university course to get a degree). Having signed to Majestic Rock in January 2005, which followed the recruitment of new drummer Francesco Tresca , the band got back to the studio (again with Karl Groom at the helm) to record their third full-length effort Magic Never Dies . A short UK tour for that album followed in November and December, with additional dates played in support for Helloween in February 2006. Later that year the band annonced that the lead singer was to take on duties as second guitarist as well, and in October news came that the guys had struck a deal with Napalm . In December of 2007 it was revealed that the album would again feature a couple of guest appearances, Richard West coming back to put in a keyboard solo on the track "Human Machine" , Cellador 's guitarist Bill Hudson guesting on "The Vigil" , Pagan's Mind 's Jörn Viggo Lofstad laying down additional guest guitars, FourwayKill 's Chris Neighbour as guest singer on one of the tracks, and finally Firewind 's Bob Katsionis bringing extra keyboards to "Save The World".

As mentioned earlier, this Italo/ Anglo outfit deals in Euro-styled Symphonic Power Metal, meaning that, exceptions excluded (the overall calmer "Save The World" being a good example), the pace is often quite temperamental (not comparable to the band they sprouted from, though), with the velocity usually indicated by the double bass drums. What bugs me, is the constant high pitch of the singer, which in fact has a somewhat heady quality. For me personally, this makes that I can listen to the album a couple of times for the obligatory sessions, but that I am soon aggravated by the singer...and the Symphonic aspect of the music accentuating this annoying part of things doesn't help either. As far as compositions go, I have to admit that everything is quite alright (two thumbs up for their creative take on the European anthem in the intro of "Kings Of Eternity ", by the way), with the necessary twists and bends to let everyone in the band have his shining moment. Play me any of these songs individually, and will throroughly enjoy what I'm hearing...but play me that same album more than twice in a day and I'll go bonkers from the induced headache!!! Check it out for yourselves by surfing to myspace.com/powerquest, where you'll find several songs off their older albums (4 in total) plus "Human Machine" (with a perfect example of what bugs me so much about the vocals in the chorus) off the latest one. Besides the 10 PQ originals, the band also recorded Megadeth 's "Reckoning Day" as a bonus...but don't ask me on which version of the album that may be featured!

Keeping in mind mys personal feeling about at least part of this band's music, you can't expect a very high rating...nevertheless I'll give the album a good

80/100

Tony.