VIGILANTE - EDGE OF TIME - 1999

Their debut album astounded me (and was supposed to appear in Snakepit number 5...but space restrictions proved otherwise) and now comes the sophomore CD from Japan's high quality power/progressive metal masters VIGILANTE. 9 songs plus an instrumental intro show a slight adjustment to more streamlined arrangements and catchier melody lines from vocalist Hideaki Niwa- but no sacrifice to the incredibly fluent musicianship we've always expected from this band. Unlike other bands who favor one side over the other, VIGILANTE combine DREAM THEATER like movements and VICIOUS RUMORS/ HELSTAR like power riffing from song to song- examples including the blood pumping "Prisoner Of Fate" and the mid-tempo mind odyssey "Blame And Praise" which features heavenly twin solos from Hiroshi Omoto and Kazuaki Horie. I think the production also has a bright, live feel but I wish that the vocals could have been a little higher in the mix (as Hideaki's Japanese accent may have you reaching for the lyric sheet to make out what he's singing). Otherwise no complaints from me- VIGILANTE deserve a bigger deal, more European touring and a chance to expand their following away from just the Far East.
http://www.truemetal.org