Prog Radio | Album Review | ''Thru the Lens'' by Legacy Pilots

Album Review

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4.5

Stars

Thru the Lens

Legacy Pilots

362

Germany

Legacy Pilots, led by German multi-instrumentalist Frank Us, has released their fifth album, "Thru the Lens," and it’s a compelling addition to the symphonic prog genre. With 16 tracks, this album might appear extensive, but it’s essentially eight substantial compositions, with two epics divided into mini-tracks.

One of the standout aspects of all Legacy Pilots albums, including "Thru the Lens," is the impressive roster of guest musicians. Frank Us has a Rolodex that any prog artist would envy, featuring the likes of Todd Sucherman, Marco Minnemann, Lars Slowak, John Mitchell, Finally George, Jake and Liza Livgren, Steven Rothery, Steve Morse, and Ricky Garcia. These collaborations clearly add extreme depth and variety to the album, resulting in a polished richness. Between symphonic prog and jazz fusion, this is an extremely tight record.

The album opens with "Where the Pilots Meet" (6:42), a robust instrumental introduction that sets the tone with intricate musicianship and engaging melodies—think a full-on prog Steely Dan. Following this, "Nemesis" (4:19) offers a punchy and energetic progression. "Don’t Chase the Rainbows" (8:49) showcases the band’s ability to blend catchy hooks and dual male/female vocals with complex arrangements, creating a track that’s both accessible and deeply satisfying. "The Matter" (4:31) is a concise yet impactful piece, leading into "The Inner Fire" (5:23), which starts with a whimper then explodes with intensity and skillful musicianship.

"Thru the Lens" is a tightly crafted album that balances complexity with accessibility. It’s clear that Frank Us and his collaborators have poured their expertise into every track, resulting in an album that’s both polished and heartfelt.

The first of the two epic tracks, "Cosmic Sea" (12:51), is broken into four segments: Prologue, A Poisoned Wasteland, Approaching Another World, and A Toxic Result, Coordinates & Epilogue. This space opera takes the listener on a journey through varied sonic landscapes, demonstrating the band's mastery in creating expansive and immersive music.

"Fooled Again" (5:09) provides a shorter, yet no less compelling, interlude before diving into the second epic, "The Professor & Me" (10:19). This track is divided into six parts: An Interesting Project, In the Laboratory, A Question of Chemistry, Where East Meets West, We’re Cooking Something Up, and Great Finale. Each segment contributes to a cohesive and dynamic narrative, showcasing Frank Us’s talent for storytelling through music. Frank has said, "The Professor and Me is probably the proggiest track we've ever made. And Todd and I are really, really proud of this track." Apparently, Todd played and recorded this track on the first try and in one go, impressive indeed!

Clocking in at 58 minutes, "Thru the Lens" is a tightly crafted album that balances complexity with accessibility. It’s clear that Frank Us and his collaborators have poured their expertise into every track, resulting in an album that’s both polished and heartfelt.

Prog Radio is thrilled to have added several of the tracks from this masterful album to our new music rotation, and of course, you can plan on hearing it featured in Monday’s “What’s New Proggy Cats?” broadcast.

4.5 Stars