VARIOUS ARTISTS
"The
Erinys" (Self-produced; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
A rock opera that's almost as successful as it is ambitious, Matt Vander Boegh's "The Erinys" plays a little like the classic "Jesus Christ Superstar." Like that play/movie, "The Erinys" is buoyed by light hard rock (does that phrase make sense?), an involving storyline and performances by artists who are obviously touched by and inspired by the work itself. And, with five vocalists and 17 musicians at work here, that's a lot of artists to be touched and inspired!
"This is a story of love, of courage, of strength, of power, of hate. But most of all, it is the story of revenge." These words from the back of the CD case give you an idea of the complexity of the storyline here. Despite its effective (if somewhat uneven) rock rhythms and well-acted spoken parts, "The Erinys" is a challenging story. For best results, it is recommended that you set aside an hour, grab some headphones and listen to the CD from beginning to end. That's really the only way to grasp the entire scope of this project.
An effective and entertaining musical novel, "The Erinys" may not be for all tastes. Except for a few heavier metal parts, its music is more Broadway stage "Jesus Christ Superstar" style than rock arena "Tommy." Still, its impressive execution, especially for a CD with no major label money behind it, makes it worth a listen.
For more information, check out www.theerinys.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 16 Sep 2024 12:51:58 -0400
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