MYSTERY is one the of the best progressive bands from Canada, and one of the most criminally ignored by the rock community in general. The group has been together for almost four decades, releasing very good albums, many of them featured at plotn08.
There’s two clear phases in the band’s history; their 21st Century Neo Prog era with vocalist Benoit David (in YES as well), and the Nineties years with original singer Gary Savoie. MYSTERY’s two full albums and EP from the ’90s are really hard to find, quite sought after by AOR fans as the initial progressive leanings of the band were strongly impregnated by Melodic Rock / AOR waves.
“At The Dawn Of A New Millennium” compiles tracks from these early years, taken from all the three releases. This record was originally released a decade+ ago, but now is being re-released with a much needed fresh 2025 remastering job.
Call it progressive AOR, Melodic Prog or whatever you want: “At The Dawn Of A New Millennium 1992-2000 (2025 Remaster)” features awesome slick compositions blending sounds inspired by Kansas, Journey, Marillion, Rush, Triumph and the list continues.
As you see, MYSTERY’s early style is quite eclectic, but always submissive to soaring melodies. All members are imaginative and accomplished players, lead by guitarist, songwriter and producer Michel St-Pere, but the star here is Gary Savoie.
Imagine a Canuck Steve Perry singing more elaborated melodic progressions, all delivered with terrific tenor vocalizations and you have Gary Savoie. Seriously, you have to hear this man’s vocal timbre.
There’s more proggy oriented tracks, like the hypnotic “Cinderella” or the semi-suite grandiosity of “Shadow Of The Lake” (which has a fantastic AOR mid-part), but most the material on this CD goes for the song format.
Among the favorites is the superb “Theatre Of The Mind”, a straight melodic rock song in the Journey mould with an AOR chorus inspired by Styx.
The influence from the Steve Perry Band also can be heard on the elastic melodic nuances of “Destiny?”, the top class proggy ballad “In My Dreams” (a highlight), or the aptly titled, hum… “The Inner Journey (Part II)”.
The progressive passages intersected with melodic crescendos in the mostly midtempo “Before The Dawn” are delicious, while the musical variations in “Black Roses” are spiced with some Kansas and Asia touches.
The quality remains in good territory with the commercial Rush-like “The Mourning Man” where a bit Marillion sparks as well, whilst ”Submerged” has a light neo prog feel (strangely the guitar riff reminds me Triumph) filled with quite passionate vocals.
“At The Dawn Of A New Millennium 1992-2000 (2025 Remaster)” features the best of Mystery’s early material, hard to find albums sunken under the out-of-print sticker for years.
Mystery is musically an incredibly very well balanced band that can be enjoyed by any audience. There’s something for everyone here; AOR fans, Melodic Rockers, Progsters.
Don’t miss this album.
Highly Recommended
1. Destiny? (2025 Remaster) (04:58)
2. Theatre of the Mind (2025 Remaster) (06:05)
3. Before the Dawn (2025 Remaster) (06:33)
4. In My Dreams (2025 Remaster) (05:25)
5. Black Roses (2025 Remaster) (08:03)
6. The Inner Journey, Pt.II (2025 Remaster) (04:36)
7. Cinderella (2025 Remaster) (07:23)
8. The Mourning Man (2025 Remaster) (04:49)
9. Submerged (2025 Remaster) (08:02)
10. Shadow of the Lake (2025 Remaster) (15:10)
Mystery – At the Dawn of a New Millennium 1992-2000 (2025 Remaster), MP#+FLAC
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