Perilous is the thirteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released on October 23, 2012, by Arion Records/Sound Resources.

Perilous
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 23, 2012
Recorded2012 at Sound Resources, Chattanooga, Tennessee
GenreProgressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock
Length57:36[1]
LabelArion Records/Sound Resources
ProducerSteve Babb and Fred Schendel
Glass Hammer chronology
Cor Cordium
(2011)
Perilous
(2012)
Ode to Echo
(2014)

This is the last album with Jon Davison acting as sole lead vocalist, with former vocalists Susie Bogdanowicz and Carl Groves returning on the following album.[2] The song titles, when read in sequence, form a short poem. It is the first album featuring Davison in which he was not involved in the writing process, as he joined Yes earlier in the year and was not available for the songwriting sessions.[3]

As with previous albums Journey of the Dunadan or Chronometree, Perilous is a concept album. However band member Steve Babb stated "we have never done a concept album like Perilous. It is essentially one unified vision; one musical idea in thirteen parts or movements. The emotions and ideas expressed in the lyrics ebb and flow with the music; but they have a definite story to tell with a beginning, middle and climactic end."

Concept edit

About the story of Perilous, Steve Babb stated "It should be obvious from the album art and the title Perilous that something dire is lurking just beyond that gate. Imagine two children lost in a cemetery at night and the unsavory characters they might meet as they try to find their way home. That is the setting for our allegory." However he stated that the listeners should interpret the ultimate meaning for themselves.[1]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Phantom Toolbooth     [4]
Sea of Tranquillity     [5]
Something Else! Reviews(positive)[6]

Track listing edit

All lyrics are written by Steve Babb; all music is composed by Babb, Fred Schendel and Alan Shikoh

No.TitleLength
1."The Sunset Gate"7:37
2."Beyond They Dwell"4:00
3."The Restless Ones"3:36
4."They Cast Their Spell"3:21
5."We Slept, we Dreamed"7:41
6."The Years Were Sped"2:57
7."Our Foe Revealed"6:27
8."Toward Home we Fled"6:47
9."As the Sun Dipped Low"1:32
10."The Wolf Gave Chase"1:59
11."We Fell at Last"1:55
12."In that Lonely Place"3:10
13."Where Sorrows Died and Came No More"6:34
Total length:57:36

Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Official Perilous page". Glass Hammer website. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  2. ^ "PERILOUS". Glass Hammer website. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Steve Babb interview" (in French). Progressive Area. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ^ "The Phantom Tollbooth - Glass Hammer - Perilous".
  5. ^ "Review: "Glass Hammer: Perilous" - Sea of Tranquility - the Web Destination for Progressive Music!".
  6. ^ "Glass Hammer - Perilous (2012)". 6 November 2012.