Band : X Opus
Album title : The Epiphany
Label : Magna Carta
Distributor : Bertus
Release Date : 19/04/2011
Release : CD

‘The epiphany’ is the debut album for X Opus, a band…. That’s not really a band.  Let me explain why I get to this strange conclusion.  All music was composed and played or programmed by James Williams.  For the vocals he enlisted the aid of Brian Dixon and David Crocker.  It might sound as no surprise that this effort took Williams almost 2 years to finish.  But, if Brian played and/or programmed all instruments, I don’t understand why the accompanying info mentions a drummer, bass player and keyboard player, unless they joined afterwards.

I don’t know which vocalist sings what, I can only tell that one of the two has a sound that is very similar to James LaBrie e.g.
I would categorize this CD under symphonic metal, with lots of progressive elements mixed in between.  Bands that operate in a similar environment are Symphony X, Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Pagan’s Mind.  So if you’re into those bands, you might like this one as well. Musica influences are diverse, ranging from Symphony X over J.S. Bach and even some Hendrix as well.  There are ten tracks in total on this album, and not one of them is boring. The compositions have been very well thought over.

90/100

Erik Morren.