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"BE" is
the album that divided the fans of
progressive metal in two main camps.
The ones that liked it and the ones
that didn't. No, this phenomenon isn't
unique; something that hasn't happened
before. But it is a first class chance
to open a discussion on what we believe
that is progressive and what it is
not. I know several die-hard fans
of progressive metal and the band
that were very disappointed. On the
other hand I know that many people
(mostly coming from the media) believe
that this is classic. I think that
the next one or two albums will show
us, if this controversial release
will be a classic or not. According
to my opinion, it is a different album
that broke some seals of typical progressive
metal and at least fulfils a target
that every band with each album sets.
People discuss about it.
The main feature of the DVD is the
one and only performance that the
band gave in front of a small audience,
in a specially designed hall, sometime
in 2003. The band is faultless and
demonstrates their extraordinary talent.
They all participate in the performance
of the concept of "BE",
dressed and makeup-ed according to
specific entities and roles in the
concept of "BE". Daniel
Gildelow is acting like a professional
actor and makes me wonder how can
so much talent be summed up in one
man. The photography and the direction
are ideal, providing a shooting from
different angles that serves a sensible
overview of the event.
The visual version of "BE"
a rich set of features and goodies,
including the usual commentaries,
photo galleries and backstage footages.
Moreover it has some clever and original
additional features, like the "Religious
Fanatics" track, which is the
whole recording delivered reversed
(a gift for the wonderful paranoid
friends that insist on seeking demons
in metal music) and the "Messages
to God" track, which contains
some more touching messages recorded
by the virtual phone machine of God.
Finally an audio version of this special
live appearance is accompanying this
turning it into very appealing package.
The price is very reasonable, so it
really worth every cent of your valuable
Euros. My only argument with this
release is that since it was scheduled
long ago and it is way superior to
the audio version, then the first
release wasn't necessary. I find it
a little bit unethical and cheap on
behalf of the company (I wish that
the band couldn't done othrwise).
Even if you debate the integrity and
the quality of "BE" (I hope
that you do not doubt the quality
of the band in general) it is a good
chance to listen it again and to explore
it through a different lens. I always
knew that I haven't finished with
"BE", because it is so grandiose
and complex that will always leave
me with a question mark. It's like
those films that we watch and after
seeing it again and again we haven't
find out what really happened and
we always argue with friends. The
music isn't what I expected from the
band, but again, when I think it twice,
a copy of "Remedy Lane"
or "The Perfect Element"
wouldn't be appropriate for dressing
these concepts. Even now, after several
months after the release of the audio
version of "BE", it is very
difficult to be fully decoded and
to comprehend. However this DVD gives
the opportunity to look closer at
it and find hidden meanings and to
interpret inconceivable notions.
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