The Great Adventure by The Neal Morse Band

The Great Adventure, the third album of the quadrilogy by The Neal Morse Band, released in 2019, continues the story told on the album The Similitude of a Dream.

The album's songwriting is worthy of a masterpiece, with a cohesive structure featuring two overtures opening the two acts and songs that flow seamlessly from one to the next.

The lineup is simply stellar, from  Mike Portnoy's drums to Randy George's bass, and the superb keyboard work of Neal Morse and Bill Hubauer, not to mention Eric Gillette's brilliant guitar.

The production is impeccable, perfect, and the mixing highlights every instrument and vocal arrangement.

The band, led by the talented Neal Morse, blends engaging melodies with complex arrangements.

The narrative is divided into five chapters, the first four on the first two vinyls and the fifth on the third.
Among the tracks I enjoyed most were the epic "Freedom Calling," the intense "Dark Melody," the hymn "Welcome to the World," and the emotional closing track, "A Love That Never Dies."

Neal Morse's voice is stunning, and he describes the album himself in an interview:
"Let the great adventure begin now..." The final line of "The Similitude of a Dream" proved eerily prophetic. The new album is exactly that: a perfect complement to TSOAD's partial reworking of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." It has everything fans expect from a Neal Morse Band album, and then some: elements of rock, metal, classical, and jazz appear throughout, as well as some incredible melodies, all played flawlessly by some of the greatest rock musicians on the planet. This band continues to amaze me! I have to say, it was a little daunting to make a follow-up to The Similitude of a Dream, given that it was such a special album and was played every night at our shows, but I think The Great Adventure will have a huge impact."

There's little else to say. It's a fantastic album. In my opinion, it's an extraordinary work, with complex progressive rock combined with melodic pop, symphonic elements, and intricate instrumental work. It tells an epic story through a series of interconnected tracks that explore themes of personal growth, spirituality, and adventure.

Excellent!

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