“Edge Of Forever” is the debut album of Texans DISTANCE OF THOUGHT, bringing some strong classic Progressive / Melodic Metal showing off the band’s talents for composition as well as performance. Though the band is new, the musicians are all veterans that have come together to become a solid group with lots to offer.
DISTANCE OF THOUGHT was formed in 2019 by guitarist Dale Rasco (ex- Day of Reckoning) and singer Drew Brown (ex-Engineered Society Project), with keyboardist Jeff Quiggle (Wicked Waltz), bassist Tony Taylor, drummer Trenton Perry and guitarist Marc Petillon.
Fans of early (1984) Queensrÿche & Pretty Maids, Fates Warning, Savatage should find plenty to enjoy on this record. Add a dash of Iron Maiden too due the twin guitar riffs, even a touch of Dio.
Music wise, DISTANCE OF THOUGHT are indeed a Progressive & Old School Heavy Metal oriented act. “Edge of Forever” has those blending traits of both styles with a strong and personal vocal plus a keyboardist that uses all kinds of sonancies from the late Seventies / early Eighties trad metal providing additional effects to the songs.
All songs are all well built with that melodic approach that enriches the mood. The feeling the fan gets is that all the music & arrangements were carefully thought and prepared before being recorded.
Singer Drew Brown delivers the clean, powerful vocals that you’d expect in this genre, with a healthy amount of emotion in the performances. The harmony guitar work of Dale Rasco and Marc Petillon are the driving force, over the competent rhythm section.
“Eternal Night” and “Unspoken” are perhaps the more progressive tracks on the album, as well as the highlight “When I see You Fall” with a very good guitar work and a first Queensrÿche atmosphere, including the vocals.
But overall DISTANCE OF THOUGHT are quite classic melodic metal. Listening “Touch My Name” with some little more care the great Dio solo career comes to mind as the way the song was built up. They do a cover of Robert Tepper’s classic “No Easy Way Out” in a melodic metal mold, pretty cool. Keyboards are prominent in both tracks giving the songs that would be characteristic DISTANCE OF THOUGHT’s face.
Grand finale “War Torn” sounds more Iron Maiden-esque with its strong twin guitars impressive riffings.
DISTANCE OF THOUGHT’s ”Edge of Forever” is definitely an album worth checking out, and shows a lot of promise for what the band does next.
Highly Recommended
Edge of Forever – Tracklist
01 – Blood Moon Rising
02 – Beside Myself
03 – Rise!
04 – Edge of Forever
05 – Eternal Night
06 – No Easy Way Out
07 – Touch My Name
08 – Unspoken
09 – When I See You Fall
Lineup
Dale Rasco – Guitars
Drew Brown – Vocals
Jeff Quiggle – Keyboards
Tony Taylor – Bass
Trenton Perry – Drums
Marc Petillon – Guitars
Distance of Thought – Edge of Forever 2023
 |
