Voyager – The Meaning of I

     Fresh off their amazing energetic performance that brought the House down at ProgPower USA in Atlanta, Australian melodic prog- metallers Voyager have returned with their new cd, “The Meaning of I”. The follow up to 2009’s excellent “I am the ReVolution”, this album finds the bands music and lyrics more introspective and personal than their previous offerings. I first became aware of Voyager last year when they were announced to be playing this year’s fest. So I picked up “UniVerse” and “ReVolution” and was instantly a fan on first listen. Voyager combine 80’s influences from A-HA, Icehouse, Duran Duran, and Depeche Mode and infuse them with a metallic edge reminiscent of Soilwork, Type O Negative, and Progressive Metal to create a totally original sound all their own.

    The new album starts with a bang with the heavy rhythms of “Momentary Relapse of Pain” which feature the bands trademark use of melodic lead vocals from Daniel Estrin and the twin axe attack from shredders Simone Dow and Scott Kay. Meanwhile, the pair of bassist Alex Canion and drummer Mark Boeijen keeps a heavy headbanging groove. “Second track “Stare into the Night” begins with a techno/hypno-trance keytar intro and transforms into a driving rocker. “Seize the Day” is a catchy headbanging anthem that features some fine keyboard work from Estrin and one of the albums finest choruses.

   There are just no filler tracks here. When Daniel sings the lyrics to songs “Broken”, and “The Pensive Disarray”(featuring former TesserAct vocalist Daniel Tompkins), this reviewer can’t help getting chills from the emotion they invoke. Other favorites of mine would be the rockin title track, and “She Takes Me (Into the Morning Light)”

    The albums most poignant moment comes from a moving, heartfelt original tribute to the late Peter Steele of Type O Negative with “Iron Dream (In Memoriam: Peter Steele)”. The middle section of the song features a very “Type O” keyboard/vocal breakdown. I can imagine if the always-serious Mr. Steele could ever muster a smile, he must be looking down with a huge grin on his face.

    “Fire of The Times” which features vocals from the legendary DC Cooper, continues the excellence with an excellent catchy chorus that will have you singing along instantly. By the time I got to the last track “Are You Shaded?”, I found myself wanting the album to continue. With “The Meaning of I”, Voyager has created a fusion of fun, pop, metal, and prog. Deal with them now or deal with them later, Voyager is here to stay and they are bringing FUN back to Prog Metal!!      

Rating: 9.5