Sons Of Apollo – “Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony” (Review)


Sons Of Apollo – “Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony”
(Inside Out)

Release Date - Friday 30th August 2019 

First of all, this ISN’T your usual contract obligation live album! This fact is important as we progress. With only one studio album to their name, Sons Of Apollo decided to document their first world tour with this rather splendid live album and DVD. 



Utilising the same venue and orchestra that label mates Devin Townsend Project used for their farewell live album from last year, this show is a bit special. It comes as no surprise that they play pretty much all of their debut “Psychotic Symphony” album. Then there’s the cover versions! It’s quite a daunting mix of covers for vocalist Jeff Scott Soto to attempt, but he takes the challenge like a trooper and does a very admirable job. Granted, they are all not note perfect vocal renditions BUT he’s not too far off the mark and i doff my imaginary cap to him for having the stones to even attempt these covers in the first place. 

If you are familiar in any way with Sons Of Apollo, it will come as no surprise to find out that musically they are flawless live. That’s what happens when your band is made up of virtuoso musicians. It might seem a bit too widdly widdly for those not familiar with the progressive metal genre, but like i said, the musicianship is exemplary. 

The orchestra appear for the second half of the set (on disc 2 if we’re counting), and they sound MAGNIFICENT as the opening orchestral strains of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" flow over the listener. It’s goose-bump inducing stuff indeed. Then there’s the almost perfect rendition of Pink Floyd’s "Comfortably Numb" followed by Queen’s "The Show Must Go On”, which, in the hands of lesser bands would be a train wreck, but Sons Of Apollo take that particular musical bull by the horns and come out victorious. 

If you buy the DVD ot Blu-Ray of this show, you'll find three tracks missing that ARE on the album. Floyd’s "Comfortably Numb", Aerosmith’s "Dream On" and Van Halen’s "And The Cradle Will Rock". Apparently this is down to copyright permission. So my advice is – buy both CD and DVD or Blu-Ray – that way you’ll get to hear the entire 2 hour 48 minute show AND get to see a slightly abridged show. It’s WONDERFUL stuff indeed!!

9/10 (Robert Adams)

Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony Track List:
God Of The Sun
Signs Of The Time
Divine Addiction
That Metal Show Theme
Just Let Me Breathe
Billy Sheehan Bass Solo
Lost In Oblivion
JSS Solo Spot – The Prophet’s Song/Save Me
Alive
The Pink Panther Theme
Opus Maximus
Kashmir
Gates Of Babylon
Labyrinth
Dream On
Diary Of A Madman
Comfortably Numb
The Show Must Go On
Hell’s Kitchen
Derek Sherinian Keyboard Solo
Lines In The Sand
Bumblefoot Guitar Spot
And The Cradle Will Rock
Coming Home

Available in CD, Vinyl, Download, DVD, Blu-Ray and box set

Sons Of Apollo are :
Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards
Mike Portnoy – Drums
Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thall – Guitar
Billy Sheehan - Bass


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