Big Scenic Nowhere - Vision Beyond Horizon (2020)

This album is a collaborative effort and even greater than the sum of its parts. The basic riffs and song structures were done by Bob Balch and Gary Arce, but the contributions from Tony Reed, Lisa Alley, Ian Graham, Mario Lalli, Nick Oliveri, Bill Stinson, Per Wiberg and Alain Johannes make this record what it is. This album is a unique gem, manufactured by multiple artists, including different atmospheres: from the melodic stoner mellowness, to faster tempos, to classic heavy sounds, but songwriting is never customary. One can say that Fu Manchu's killer riffing meets the desert psychedelia of Yawning Man. Bob Balch and Gary Arce together give life to an amazing new adventure which sounds fresh and dynamic. The vocal parts are always choral and interesting. There's a variety in the songs which always keeps the listener focused and intrigued about what's next.