01	Calls out My Name						10:30
	02	Judgement Day						10:35
	03	Life is Now						08:55
	04	Bach on the Streets Again						05:17
	05	Fly Me High						05:00
	06	Lighthouse						08:28
	07	Learning to Live						04:33
	08	Final Words						07:41

The album track by track:


1. Calls out My Name (10:05)

Alexander King - hammond organ and piano solos, Alex Masi - 2nd guitar solo - , Lars Eric Mattsson - 1st and last guitar solos and electric sitar, Ella Grussner - violin, Derek Sherinian - synth solo, Ella Grussner and Torgny Stjarnfelt - lead and backing vocals, additional backing vocals - Orjan Sjostrom, Esa Pietila - sax

2. Judgement Day (10:31)

Alexander King - hammond organ solos,Alex Masi - 2nd guitar solo - , Lars Eric Mattsson - 1st and last guitar solos , Ella Grussner - violin, Ella Grussner and Torgny Stjarnfelt - lead and backing vocals, additional backing vocals - Orjan Sjostrom

3. Life is Now (8:51)

Alexander King - hammond organ solos,Alex Masi - 2nd guitar solo - , Lars Eric Mattsson - 1st and last guitar solos , Ella Grussner - violin solo, Derek Sherinian - synth solo, Ella Grussner and Torgny Stjarnfelt - lead and backing vocals

4. Bach on the Streets Again (5:15)

Alexander King - hammond organ solos,Alex Masi - 2nt guitar solo - , Lars Eric Mattsson - 1st and last guitar solo , Ella Grussner - violin

5. Fly Me High (4:58)

Alexander King - hammond organ solo,Lars Eric Mattsson - Acoustic guitar solo , Torgny Stjarnfelt - lead vocals, Orjan Sjostrom and Ella Grussner - backing vocals

6. Lighthouse (8:26)

Alexander King - hammond organ solos, Lars Eric Mattsson - guitar solos , Esa Pietila - sax, Ella Grussner - violin

7. Learning to Live (4:30)

Alexander King - hammond organ solos,Alex Masi - 1st guitar solo - , Lars Eric Mattsson - 2nd guitar solo , Torgny Stjarnfelt - lead vocals, Orjan Sjostrom - all backing vocals

8. Final Words (7:41)

Lars Eric Mattsson - all guitars, Derek Sherinian - Synth solo, Alexander King - Acoustic Grand

All tracks : Lars Eric Mattsson - bass and rhytm guitars, Eddie Sledgehammer - Drums




Condition Red - Condition Red

Released: 2000
Label: Lion Music
Cat. No.: LMC 2003 2
Total Time: 59:20

Musicians:
Torgny Stjarnfelt - vocals
Ella Grussner - vocals, violin
Lars Eric Mattsson - guitar, bass, keyboards
Alex Masi - guitar
Alexander King - keyboards
Esa Pietila - sax
Eddie Sledgehammer - drums
Derek Sherinian - keyboards (3, 8)
Orjan Sjostrom - backing vocals

Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, July 2001
Jazzy, bass heavy and saxy is "Judgement Day," track two on Condition Red's debut. Sure there's metal, but its jazz metal. Could they actually have created a new genre? Bass reverberates and buzzes at times ... oh, and there's this gothic chorus thing. Keys, bass, and male voices singing. And it's guitar rock. It's spoiled a bit when full vocals come in, though. Torgny Stjarnfelt is not a band vocalist, but the initial groove of this is suddenly given the backseat. Ella Grussner's voice is...well, I think the most apt description is Tracy Hitchings. Overall, if the bass on this track were any louder, I think the walls here would dance.

Condition Red's sound is fairly typical metal with some different seasonings, but its their jazz metal instrumentals that really interest me. Speedy keyboard (Alexander King, Lars Eric Mattsson and Derek Sherinian) and guitar runs (Mattsson and Alex Masi), churning bass (Mattsson again), some pseudo-classical bits with violin (Grussner) -- as good as Grussner is as a vocalist, it's her violin playing that is the real treat. Rounding out the lineup Esa Pietila on that sexy sounding sax, Eddie Sledgehammer on drums, and Orjan Sjostrom on backing vocals.

"Lighthouse" is the highlight track along with "Life Is Now." In fact, all the elements come together on "Life Is Now," which features keys by Sherinian. It's only Grussner on vocals and this track features her finest performance of the album. The blues-based "Learning To Live" is choppy and chunky, sounding like some heavy metal mix of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.

Production-wise this album is loose but distinct; each instrument is clear and occupies it's own space, but it feels very tight and close in. Overall I have to say the album is nice, and but for a few bright spots rather ho-hum typical metal. However, the opening track, and the cut featured on the Lion Music sampler, "Calls Out My Name," still runs through my head nearly three days after I last listened to this disc. Perhaps because I've heard it so many times, or perhaps because it is, after all, the only track with sticking power.

======================

Condition Red - Condition Red Country of Origin: Various
Format: CD
Record Label: Lion Music
Catalogue #: Rune 145
Year of Release: 2001

Of all the names found on the Lion Music label, Condition Red must be the one that strikes a familiar note with lovers of progressive rock. Though this is their debut album, a certain amount of hype has been created around this band, nonetheless due to the utilization of many well known names from the Scandinavian rock scene as well as a number of guest musicians. Born out of a concept by guitarist/bassist Lars Eric Matsson (Matsson, Vision, Astral Groove) and keyboardist Alexander King, this album features Ella Grussner (lead vocals, violin) (Barka Vall), Torgny Stjдrnfelt (lead vocals), Alex Masi (guitars), Esa Pietilд (sax), Eddie Sledgehammer (drums) (Baltimoore) and guest keyboardist on two tracks (3 and 8), Derek Sheinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Platypus).

The underlying groove is one of a progressive metal album, though there are various interjections of jazz, fusion and classical elements. As can be seen by the length of the tracks, a lot of space has been given to the musical virtuosisms of the various members allowing each one to expand and make full use of his/her individual instrument.

Calls Out My Name starts the album with a classical overtone, as the music seems to be more in a Renaissance style, though as the double bass drum kicks in the music slowly picks up with the occasional metal interjection coupled with some nice Hammond licks. Three and a half minutes into the track we get the first vocals, and immediately one senses that this is going to be the main flaw within this album. Both vocalists seem to posses a limited range and somehow do not seem to fit into the musical style played, in fact it comes as a relief when the group moves into the instrumental sections of the track.

Judgement Day is one of the album highlights as the group never stray form a jazz/swing groove with some interesting saxophone playing. Even the guitar solos never seem as heavy sounding as they do on the rest of the album. Suffice to say that at just under ten and a half minutes, this track features everything that you could possibly want and expect from a lengthy progressive instrumental, constant changes in both time signature and musical interchanges.

Life Is Now reverts back the progressive metal style that somehow suits the group, especially when looking at the c.v. of the musicians involved whose background is well within the metal kingdom. Keyboard solo is courtesy of Derek Sherinian which also involves utilizing some good atmospheric and orchestral effects. The instrumental Bach On The Streets Again is utilized to showcase the two prominent guitarists (Matsson and Masi) that feature in Condition Red, yet this does not detract from violinist Ella Grussner having her say in the matters.

Fly Me High is one of the albums' weaker tracks. True it does have some interesting time signatures, yet the track remains very bland with some strained vocals. Lighthouse, on the other hand, makes up for the disappointment of the previous track. With an atmospheric sax-drenched opening, the group romp into some great Hammond backed riffs together with a lovely bass run. Occasionally this is interrupted by some delicate saxophone which helps break the continuous guitar riff-raff.

The short (by this album's standards!) Learning To Live shows the strength of this group lies in having a strong backing power chord backbone to the strong structure, which means that the group seems to excel when the song is well within the metallic vein. Final Words closes this album which once again features guest keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Here the group thread a softer path though essentially metallic, the sound is cleaner with less distortion and some nice piano playing.

All in all this album makes an interesting listen though it has its shortcomings. The production work leaves a lot to be desired especially as to where the drums are placed within the mix, while the vocals as I have mentioned time and time again just do not blend in well with this style of music which requires a much more powerful voice which has a wider range than what is offered here. The album does have its musical moments though and this should act as a guarantee for the group's musical future. As a debut, they are going in the right direction. Time will tell.

Conclusion: 7.5 out of 10.

Nigel Camilleri

Note: this album has also been reviewed by Remco in 2000. In his review he rated the album with a 5.


Condition Red - Condition Red
Country of Origin: Finland
Format: CD
Record Label: Lion Music
Catalogue #: LMC 2003-2
Year of Release: 2000

Condition Red is a Finnish progressive metal project, initiated by Lars Eric Mattson. In itself the compositions are quite OK, mostly reminding of Dream Theater and the likes, but the execution is fairly dubious at places.

The opening track opens quite nice, with strings reminding more of modern classical music then metal, but the chorus that follows shows the weakness of some of the musician (especially the drums are not up to standards for this type of work). The vocals are on the edge, although the female vocalist gives the best performance here with a Bjork-like intonation.
Judgement Day opens a bit jazzy, and the bass guitar draws the most attention, together with the swinging soprano-sax. All in all a really bare part. The second part of the track, is quite complex and reminding of Finneus Gauge. Due to the lyrics that feature the sentence "Close to the Edge", indeed this Yes track comes to mind as well, but only briefly.

Due to the fact that this is a project of course everybody wants his/her solo and the album features quite a lot of them therefore. One of the most outstanding names on the project is that of (ex-)Dream Theater, Platypus, etc. keyboard player Derek Sherinian who performs a solo on the next track Life is Now, and this is at the same time the only positive thing about this mediocre track that leans too heavily on the Dream Theater legacy and is quite uninspirational.
Bach on the Streets again is definitely based on classical music (most probably...ehhhggg Beethoven?), thrashed into a prog metal jacket. Well at least the melodic content is OK, but it sounds a bit overdone. Fly Me High is more simple rock, with a negative lead for the vocals. I don't like this one.

Lighthouse starts strong, with a nice folky melancholic tune that leads into a more jazzy/rock experimental part with cool Hammond work and quite a high tempo. Due to the different tempi and atmospheres cramped into the 8 minutes that the track lasts, it is in my opinion the most diverse and best track of the album. Also because it is fully instrumental. Learning to Live continues a bit in the same vein, but less experimental and the weak vocals return. The album closes with Final Words, a ballad, but in reality more of an extended solo with some background chords and drums.

Well, as you have guessed I am not too impressed by this project. Maybe because there are too many different people involved that are forced to play more or less the same style, so it becomes somewhat incoherent. There is no feeling of a "band". The vocals are quite bad, more yelling than singing, but at least they are in tune most of the time. The compositions themselves have potential but are not quite well orchestrated and there is too much room for solos, breaking the melodic lines of the compositions too often. Not an album I would recommend, there are too many other albums worthwhile buying out there.

Conclusion: 5 out of 10.

Remco Schoenmakers



Condition Red - Condition Red

Released: 2000
Label: Lion Music
Cat. No.: LMC 2003 2
Total Time: 59:20


Reviewed by: Keith Hannaleck, September 2001
Finland based Lion Music is on the way to becoming a major force in progressive music. Recent releases have really impressed me as being right on the cutting edge. The label is unquestionably traveling down the road of progress in the development of the resurgent progressive rock-metal genre. Condition Red is a collection of songs from various artists that are breaking through barriers by using vehicles like compilations to introduce themselves and their catalogs of recorded works.

Alex Masi (guitar), Lars Eric Matteson (guitar, bass, keyboards), Ella Grussner (violin, lead vocals), Torgny Starnfelt (lead vocals), Derek Sherinian (keyboards), Alexander King (keyboards), Eddie Sledgehammer (drums), and Orjan Sjostrom (vocals) are the actors on this diverse shared stage of rock music. Never heard of some of these people? Stick around, you will.

The only vocals that I could appreciate were those of the women, the men are best to leave their aspirations to sing behind them and just play their instruments. There lies the difference between the long instrumental breaks on some of the tracks and the flat-out rocking instrumental pieces. "Lighthouse" is the one track that got my undivided attention. It's a typically long prog rocker (8:26 minutes), and the combination of guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and pounding bass will grab you and pull you into the inundation of instruments that are hell bent on making you a believer in this music. Ideally you would like all music to keep you glued to the speakers, but it's not realistic to even consider that. For the most part music like progressive rock manages to keep me interested, with the exception of occasional abysmal vocals that detract from the great music. That didn't happen enough for me to feel discouraged and not feel the burning desire to continue to listen that's for sure. "Life Is Now" has a tale to tell as well... It rocks and pummels you into submission, making you want to drop to your knees and beg for more. And they all get the "Final Words" on the curtain closer, which is yet another prog time machine, lasting over seven and half minutes.

I look forward with anticipation and excitement to see how all of these artists develop. Lion Music will be a major contender for their share of the fans that live and die with each new release of prog rock and metal that can make a difference. Condition Red! An animal is on the prowl... it comes in the form of a lion and it has emerged from the darkness to mark its territory. Let the revolution begin...

More about Condition Red:

Track Listing: Calls Out My Name (10:28) / Judgement Day (10:31) / Life Is Now (8:51) / Bach On The Streets Again (5:15) / Fly Me High (4:58) / Lighthouse (8:26) / Learning To Live (4:30) / Final Words (7:41)

Musicians:
Torgny Stjarnfelt - vocals
Ella Grussner - vocals, violin
Lars Eric Mattsson - guitar, bass, keyboards
Alex Masi - guitar
Alexander King - keyboards
Esa Pietila - sax
Eddie Sledgehammer - drums
Derek Sherinian - keyboards (3, 8)
Orjan Sjostrom - backing vocals

Contact:

Website: www.condition-red.com
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Condition Red (2000)