HIGH WHEEL
''THERE''
1996
75:23
1 Into Voyage 08:06
2 Terminal Scorn Serenade 03:56
3 There (19'12'') - I. Trial 02:25
4 II. No Place To Hide 04:21
5 III. Is There Anything Left 03:36
6 IV. Dethroned Realities 03:50
7 V. Sanctum 05:00
8 Two Towers (7'09'') - I. Light 02:52
9 II. Sound 01:46
10 III. The Saviour 02:31
11 Metamorphosis (16'11'') - I. Brain Moles 03:28
12 II. Crystal Bird 06:56
13 III. Hate Hounds 05:47
14 Dystopia (8'34'') - I. Warheads 03:14
15 II. Digisiren 05:20
16 Intermezzo 01:17
17 The Room Of Decision (4'15'') - I. Brainstorm 02:02
18 II. Decision 02:13
19 Birth (6'35'') - I. In The Tunnel 01:19
20 II. Stars 05:16
Wolfgang Hierl / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Flute, Keyboards, Vocals
Uli Jenne / Drums & Percussion
Erich Kogler / Electric & Acoustic Basses, Piano, Vocals
Andreas Lobinger / Keyboards, Accordion, Vocals
REVIEWS
1) RATING: 9/10
PROG-NOSE
"'There' is the third album by the German formation High Wheel, originally released in 1996, and is now available in a remastered version by the Swedish label Records Progress.
One can wonder whether this album could have a ‘higher value’, given that the number of releases in progressive rock in recent years is already quite large. But for whom the work of High Wheel is unknown: this is a real milestone and an album not to be missed in each prog collection.
‘There’ is a concept album (a distraught young man commits suicide and enters a parallelworld, which he eventually want to escape after many adventures), which stands for more than 75 minutes of music, divided into 9 pieces of 20 tracks. But in addition to this interesting concept you get a musical journey through the last 40 years, ranging from Pink Floyd, Eloy, Uriah Heep on IQ, Pallas and other modern progressive rock acts. It may seem too much for one album, but they succeed to perfectly integrate all those different mood en pace changes, so it’s never boring.
With so much variation, it is almost impossible to discuss all tracks one by one, but nevertheless
I will comment a few fragments. It will be no surprise at all that the opener is a dark, melancholic
instrumental song, a little bit in the style of current Riverside and former Eloy. Pink Floyd influences
are also present, 'Terminal Serenade' begins very quiet and acoustic, alternated with moog sounds.
Wolfgang Hierl proves that he has a beautiful voice, in addition to his extraordinary gift for composing
songs. The title track is a real epic with all the ingredients, typical of true symphonic rock. A trademark
of High Wheel is also the vocals in harmony and the Gentle Giant-like arrangements, which are full of
twisted rhythms. The track alternates the quiet moments with bombastic pieces, flute and church
(Sanctum) often present a specific atmosphere.
In 'Two Towers' you may even find a drunk men song (folk), but strangely it fits neatly in the overall
concept. Metamorphosis actually begins in pure Dream Theater-style, which once again proves the diversity on this disc. Such complex music can only be played by musicians with a major technical skill, I have already experienced this at one of their live performances. 'Hate Hounds' starts with a riff like "Easy Livin' of Uriah Heep and evolves into real Deep Purple-style with some brilliant 'Hierl'-ing guitar solos, these guys know how to rock. The drums and flute in 'Dystopia' have a military sound, followed by another song with Gentle Giant patterns. 'Brainstorm' actually sounds even electronic ambient (Vangelis), culminating into an acoustic set. After a brief impressive piece of instrumental music the end of the album is not really a big musical orgasm, but it rather ends with Yes-like ballad. But all those so called finals are simply spread over the entire album.
For those who have already the original album in their possession, I can only say that the quality of
production has greatly improved, for all other prog-lovers, this is an unavoidable CD. And if you have
the chance to assist a live concert with these guys, don’t hesitate!"
2) Rating: 4,5 of 5
SEA OF TRANQUILITY
"Rightfully hailed by many as one of the true gems of modern symphonic rock, High Wheel’s third effort There, originally released in 1997, is back after being out of print for several years. Featuring remastered sound and reissued by Progress Records, High Wheel’s concept album of a life and death journey now sounds better than ever. Musically, these guys walk a fine line between the classic space rock of Pink Floyd and Eloy with the harder edge neo-prog of IQ and Pallas. That line is especially evident on the devastating 8-minute instrumental opener “Into Void”. Wolfgang Hierl’s biting guitar leads call to mind the work of Frank Bornemann at his heaviest while keyboardist Andreas Lobinger’s soaring digital/analog rig is straight out of the School of Martin Orford.
You say you want epics? The skillfully woven five-part title track clocks in at 19 minutes and will leave you breathless. Particularly effective is the dramatic “Dethroned Realities” sequence and the emotional guitar outro of “Sanctum”. Then there’s the 16-minute “Metamorphosis”. Chock full of crunchy guitar riffing, dissonant keyboards and even some Gentle Giant like vocals, this piece has a lot going for it. I don’t think the final sequence (“Hate Hounds”) is quite as successful as it rather arbitrarily takes the piece into Uriah Heep territory. Still, it rocks pretty hard.
“Two Towers” features a very effective arrangement. Broken into three segments, “Light” is a symphonic rock anthem, “Sound” is a spacey majestic instrumental while “The Savior” is an English pub song of sorts. And that is what is key to enjoying this very lengthy 76 minute CD: the diversity of the material, the willingness to experiment a bit and the fact that High Wheel do it so damn well. By the time you get to the Tangerine Dream inspired “The Room of Decision”, you’ll be wondering if you’re listening to the same band.
High Wheel have been pretty quiet on the recording front in recent years. Here’s hoping they make a comeback real soon. For anyone who might be new to the band, the new edition of There is as good of a place to start as any."
3) RATING: 5/6 planets
PROGPLANET
"Once again, that great Swedish prog label: Progress Records has taken me by surprise, my mailbox smiles happily whenever i recieve a package from them. Not once have there been a bad album from that particular company!!In this particular case its their 1996 release: “There”.And believe you me, its an absolute stunner, a must own, areal treat to everyone into fine progressive music!
Some fellow reviewers would have them derivate of ELP.I think they are more Pink Floydish (“Into Voyage”) in some degree, with those grand symphonic music themes and superb guitar soli! But they have quite some (many) ideas of their own, which they gladly display and shower all over this excellent album. There are small hints and allegations to IQ and Marillion, but overall they shine as the true progsters they are. Mind you, in concept not much new or progressive, but the sheer enthusiasm and that professional delivery, makes them very listenable!!!
And while we are on the subject of concept, this is a concept album! The story in short:
A young man takes his own life, only to find himself in a place somewhere beyond Heaven and Hell, a parallel world as it were, where creatures judge him, to be excluded from the circle of Life and Death, for being guilty of throwing life away!
What a story and what a concept, the music are just excellent and High Wheel proves once again
(read my review of their superb live album!!) that they master their trade and instruments superbly. I havent heard this album in the initial form, and i dont really care, for this remastered version is just brilliant!! And anyone in their right prog mind, should have this in their collection!!
This album is pure magic and you really MUST get a hold of it!! Treat yourself to a fine gift, sure this year has many fine offers, but High Wheel has, in my opinion, the better hand!! My favourite track ? Well actually I love them all. Ok...if i were to mention a few it would be:“Into Voyage” & “Metamorphosis”, but please notice those are only 2 in a brilliant sequence of tunes from an album that reaches the 75:49 minute mark. High Wheel, a brilliant progband, that you absolutely must hear!! “There” i said it!!
TO THE TOP
''THERE''
1996
75:23
1 Into Voyage 08:06
2 Terminal Scorn Serenade 03:56
3 There (19'12'') - I. Trial 02:25
4 II. No Place To Hide 04:21
5 III. Is There Anything Left 03:36
6 IV. Dethroned Realities 03:50
7 V. Sanctum 05:00
8 Two Towers (7'09'') - I. Light 02:52
9 II. Sound 01:46
10 III. The Saviour 02:31
11 Metamorphosis (16'11'') - I. Brain Moles 03:28
12 II. Crystal Bird 06:56
13 III. Hate Hounds 05:47
14 Dystopia (8'34'') - I. Warheads 03:14
15 II. Digisiren 05:20
16 Intermezzo 01:17
17 The Room Of Decision (4'15'') - I. Brainstorm 02:02
18 II. Decision 02:13
19 Birth (6'35'') - I. In The Tunnel 01:19
20 II. Stars 05:16
Wolfgang Hierl / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Flute, Keyboards, Vocals
Uli Jenne / Drums & Percussion
Erich Kogler / Electric & Acoustic Basses, Piano, Vocals
Andreas Lobinger / Keyboards, Accordion, Vocals
REVIEWS
1) RATING: 9/10
PROG-NOSE
"'There' is the third album by the German formation High Wheel, originally released in 1996, and is now available in a remastered version by the Swedish label Records Progress.
One can wonder whether this album could have a ‘higher value’, given that the number of releases in progressive rock in recent years is already quite large. But for whom the work of High Wheel is unknown: this is a real milestone and an album not to be missed in each prog collection.
‘There’ is a concept album (a distraught young man commits suicide and enters a parallelworld, which he eventually want to escape after many adventures), which stands for more than 75 minutes of music, divided into 9 pieces of 20 tracks. But in addition to this interesting concept you get a musical journey through the last 40 years, ranging from Pink Floyd, Eloy, Uriah Heep on IQ, Pallas and other modern progressive rock acts. It may seem too much for one album, but they succeed to perfectly integrate all those different mood en pace changes, so it’s never boring.
With so much variation, it is almost impossible to discuss all tracks one by one, but nevertheless
I will comment a few fragments. It will be no surprise at all that the opener is a dark, melancholic
instrumental song, a little bit in the style of current Riverside and former Eloy. Pink Floyd influences
are also present, 'Terminal Serenade' begins very quiet and acoustic, alternated with moog sounds.
Wolfgang Hierl proves that he has a beautiful voice, in addition to his extraordinary gift for composing
songs. The title track is a real epic with all the ingredients, typical of true symphonic rock. A trademark
of High Wheel is also the vocals in harmony and the Gentle Giant-like arrangements, which are full of
twisted rhythms. The track alternates the quiet moments with bombastic pieces, flute and church
(Sanctum) often present a specific atmosphere.
In 'Two Towers' you may even find a drunk men song (folk), but strangely it fits neatly in the overall
concept. Metamorphosis actually begins in pure Dream Theater-style, which once again proves the diversity on this disc. Such complex music can only be played by musicians with a major technical skill, I have already experienced this at one of their live performances. 'Hate Hounds' starts with a riff like "Easy Livin' of Uriah Heep and evolves into real Deep Purple-style with some brilliant 'Hierl'-ing guitar solos, these guys know how to rock. The drums and flute in 'Dystopia' have a military sound, followed by another song with Gentle Giant patterns. 'Brainstorm' actually sounds even electronic ambient (Vangelis), culminating into an acoustic set. After a brief impressive piece of instrumental music the end of the album is not really a big musical orgasm, but it rather ends with Yes-like ballad. But all those so called finals are simply spread over the entire album.
For those who have already the original album in their possession, I can only say that the quality of
production has greatly improved, for all other prog-lovers, this is an unavoidable CD. And if you have
the chance to assist a live concert with these guys, don’t hesitate!"
2) Rating: 4,5 of 5
SEA OF TRANQUILITY
"Rightfully hailed by many as one of the true gems of modern symphonic rock, High Wheel’s third effort There, originally released in 1997, is back after being out of print for several years. Featuring remastered sound and reissued by Progress Records, High Wheel’s concept album of a life and death journey now sounds better than ever. Musically, these guys walk a fine line between the classic space rock of Pink Floyd and Eloy with the harder edge neo-prog of IQ and Pallas. That line is especially evident on the devastating 8-minute instrumental opener “Into Void”. Wolfgang Hierl’s biting guitar leads call to mind the work of Frank Bornemann at his heaviest while keyboardist Andreas Lobinger’s soaring digital/analog rig is straight out of the School of Martin Orford.
You say you want epics? The skillfully woven five-part title track clocks in at 19 minutes and will leave you breathless. Particularly effective is the dramatic “Dethroned Realities” sequence and the emotional guitar outro of “Sanctum”. Then there’s the 16-minute “Metamorphosis”. Chock full of crunchy guitar riffing, dissonant keyboards and even some Gentle Giant like vocals, this piece has a lot going for it. I don’t think the final sequence (“Hate Hounds”) is quite as successful as it rather arbitrarily takes the piece into Uriah Heep territory. Still, it rocks pretty hard.
“Two Towers” features a very effective arrangement. Broken into three segments, “Light” is a symphonic rock anthem, “Sound” is a spacey majestic instrumental while “The Savior” is an English pub song of sorts. And that is what is key to enjoying this very lengthy 76 minute CD: the diversity of the material, the willingness to experiment a bit and the fact that High Wheel do it so damn well. By the time you get to the Tangerine Dream inspired “The Room of Decision”, you’ll be wondering if you’re listening to the same band.
High Wheel have been pretty quiet on the recording front in recent years. Here’s hoping they make a comeback real soon. For anyone who might be new to the band, the new edition of There is as good of a place to start as any."
3) RATING: 5/6 planets
PROGPLANET
"Once again, that great Swedish prog label: Progress Records has taken me by surprise, my mailbox smiles happily whenever i recieve a package from them. Not once have there been a bad album from that particular company!!In this particular case its their 1996 release: “There”.And believe you me, its an absolute stunner, a must own, areal treat to everyone into fine progressive music!
Some fellow reviewers would have them derivate of ELP.I think they are more Pink Floydish (“Into Voyage”) in some degree, with those grand symphonic music themes and superb guitar soli! But they have quite some (many) ideas of their own, which they gladly display and shower all over this excellent album. There are small hints and allegations to IQ and Marillion, but overall they shine as the true progsters they are. Mind you, in concept not much new or progressive, but the sheer enthusiasm and that professional delivery, makes them very listenable!!!
And while we are on the subject of concept, this is a concept album! The story in short:
A young man takes his own life, only to find himself in a place somewhere beyond Heaven and Hell, a parallel world as it were, where creatures judge him, to be excluded from the circle of Life and Death, for being guilty of throwing life away!
What a story and what a concept, the music are just excellent and High Wheel proves once again
(read my review of their superb live album!!) that they master their trade and instruments superbly. I havent heard this album in the initial form, and i dont really care, for this remastered version is just brilliant!! And anyone in their right prog mind, should have this in their collection!!
This album is pure magic and you really MUST get a hold of it!! Treat yourself to a fine gift, sure this year has many fine offers, but High Wheel has, in my opinion, the better hand!! My favourite track ? Well actually I love them all. Ok...if i were to mention a few it would be:“Into Voyage” & “Metamorphosis”, but please notice those are only 2 in a brilliant sequence of tunes from an album that reaches the 75:49 minute mark. High Wheel, a brilliant progband, that you absolutely must hear!! “There” i said it!!
TO THE TOP
