Pinnacle Point - Symphony of Mind (Album Review) Via Escape Music

Nobody could have predicted how well the first Pinnacle Point album, Winds of Change, would be received. That first recording struck a chord with classic rock listeners, especially fans of old school Kansas band music. Three years later, the growth of this band is a leap of Neil Armstrong proportions. Jerome Mazza returns to the microphone along with guitarists Torben Enevoldsen and Tommy Denander. Also on guitar and vocals is Rich Ayala. He's joined on bass guitar by Takeaki Itoh and on drums by Mark Prator. 

The first single, Weight of The World, roars out of the gate like a Deep Purple Highway Star. This might be the perfect song for a movie with a high speed car chase. Mazza's vocal tendencies line up impeccably with his hero Steve Walsh. The lines of imitation and flattery are blurred so much that it seems Walsh just handed him the baton. Like the first Pinnacle Point album, an instrumental track opens the set. It's called Ascent To The Point, and it embodies those orchestrations and chord changes that adorn all of the early Kansas records. The violin work on this album is on par with some of the best stuff ever recorded in the rock genre. Valeria Pozaritskaya is an amazing talent on violin and her work helps drive the sound of the entire project. 

"So Alive" is a brilliant track featuring a variety of keyboard sounds as well as an incredible spacey progged out synth solo that will grab you by the ears. The elegant big majesty of this track will draw comparisons to the orchestral long form album tracks Kansas used to be famous for. And as much as this is prog-rock, it also embodies classical and pop forms as well. "Hero" also combines the classical and progressive with scintillating acoustic guitar work. Mazza's voice and Valeria's violin intertwine into a lush tapestry. "Never Surrender" begins with a searing guitar riff that drops to a low rumble but then bursts open with big progressive power chords. Mazza's voice travels up to the ionosphere. Jerome apparently does this stuff with ease. He's truly a gifted, classically trained vocalist. 

"In The Wake of Hope" brims with the old Kansas musical template, but on steroids. Again the violin is vibrant and is clearly the lead instrument. The lyrical themes on Symphony are mostly inspirational and positive. In our current world with it's large problems, this music will be a welcome escape for many. Of note in this song is the instrumental break featuring classical piano, violin and acoustic guitar. This is headphone paradise. "Shadows of Peace" continues the perfect streak of rich, full bodied lyrical and musical concepts. The tempo changes and angelic vocal harmonies are truly mind blowing. Many of these songs clock in between 5 and 6 minutes and there are no wasted moments. In most cases, you'd want them to go on longer. 

"Beyond" begins with a full pallete of sound colors including piano, synth and violin. Acoustic guitars fall in and eventually lead to more dreamy imagery and vocals from Mazza. This might be his most Steve Walsh-like performance especially on the high notes. The synths return for an epic solo. The tempo changes are stunning. "Nothing At All" opens with a Timpani drum roll followed by a beautiful open soundscape highlighting both classical piano and acoustic guitars. Mazza soars yet again. His range is strong and limitless and effortless. "Prodigal" is a grittier rocker featuring keyboard sounds that play off the drums and guitar blasts. And yes, more stunning violin. For those familiar with the album by Kansas called Monolith, this sounds like a lost track. 

The album's title song (and final one) is truly it's Magnum Opus. A sprawling seven minute tribute to Kansas legend Kerry Livgren. It's more than homage to Kerry, it's an acknowledgement of his brilliance and how he was so far advanced in his thinking. There couldn't be a better tribute and I've heard few songs in recent memory that bring this much passion and integrity to a topic. Mazza and his crew sincerely love the early Kansas records. In their zeal, they have crafted their own classic album that will someday be looked back on as an authentic continuation of what Livgren and Walsh started. No better compliment could be paid to a record in the year 2020. This is some indescribably brilliant music that sits on it's own plain far above the din of the noise below. This is the best melodic rock record I've heard this year.

Album Rating 10.0