Magellan-Impending Ascension (1993)

Heirs to the avant-garde American sound of the 1970s, like Rush and Kansas, Magellan is a band formed in the mid-1980s, considered one of the flagship acts of the second wave of progressive rock worldwide. Formed by brothers Trent and Wayne Gardner (keyboards and guitars respectively), along with bassist Hal Stringfellow, they released their debut album, "Hour of Restoration", in 1991. This album featured a complex suite titled "Mana Carta", a concept album about old England, uniquely and originally blending elements of classic progressive rock with metal. With "Impending Ascension", their next full-length album, Magellan continued in a similar vein, albeit with an improved musical direction and a better balance in the arrangements, all combined with an even more refined level of instrumental skill. Their main influences here remain Kansas and the British symphonic progressive bands of the 70s, adding subtle touches of neo-progressive fused with metal, a factor that broadened their sonic palette by infusing a modern feel into their symphonic style. The expansive tracks “National Stadium”, “Waterfront Weirdos”, and “Storms and Munity” best define this distinctive style, while the striking instrumental “No Time For Words”, although it might sound somewhat pretentious, is simultaneously a clear indication of the Gardner brothers' immense talent as composers and instrumentalists.