Time Requiem - Time Requiem (2002)

Swedish band Time Requiem is the creation of master keyboardist (and I do mean master) Richard Andersson, and this debut is an hour long piece of power/progressive/neoclassical music, something that I could well struggle with, and it's true it's unlikely to ever become one of my favourites, but there's still worthy stuff on offer and it helps, of course, that I'm a big keyboard fan, and said instrument dominates.
 This is nowhere better demonstrated than the terrific instrumental "Brutal Mentor", which is not just instantly grabbing, but shows Andersson's remarkable playing.  It must be the name... Richard (Rick) Wakeman, Richard Clayderman... this fellow matches them all.
The highlight of the actual songs (meaning, tracks with lyrics) is "Grand Opus", but there are other parts that show a grace and deftness that is beguilling.
I don't think progressive metal will ever win me over completely, but I can be reasonably satisfied if it's done like this.

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