Ulysses - "The Gift Of Tears" Review

Artist/ Band: Ulysses
Title: The Gift Of Tears
Label: Symbioses Music/ Musea
Year of Release: 2008
Offical Artist/ Band Link

The Review:

Ulysses is a progressive metal band from the Netherlands and early in 2009 they released their long-awaited third studio album, The Gift of Tears. Since the last album Symbioses (2003) there was changes in the line-up since the last album. The musicians that remained the same are Ron Mozer (keyboards), René van Haaren (drums) and Sylvester Vogelenzang de Jong (guitar). Newcomers to the band are Michael Hos (vocals) and Casper Kroon (bass).

The lyrics were a change of pace from the normal fantasy lyrics. New vocalist Hos felt there was enough happening in reality to write about. As for the vocals, Michael Hos delivery is somewhere in between Ray Alder, Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson Instrumentally, the band’s sound has heavy symphonic progressive rock/metal sound. While not metal enough to be of the progressive metal camp, the reason I feel is the keyboards are have an just as important role as the guitars.

The release of The Gift Of Tears, coincides with the band’s 10th Anniversary. And what a way to celebrate! It’s filled with some great music and highlights for me are the two epics "How Much More" (12+) and "Anat" (14+). I’d recommend fans of Fates Warning (Parallels era), Queensryche (Empire/Promised Land era), Iron Maiden (late 80’s era) to seek this band and it‘s album out, immediately.

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on July 24th, 2009

Tracks:

01. Family Portrait

02. Guardian Angel

03. Lost

04. How Much More

05. Silence Of The Night

06. The Gift Of Tears

07. Anat