Nine Skies – The Lightmaker

Nine Skies’ fourth album in only six years is a big step for the band because it’s their first one since the passing of Eric Bouillette, who was the band’s pillar, in charge of songwriting, guitars, piano, keyboards and violin. Nevertheless, the band has decided to continue, and the result is the concept album The Lightmaker.

The album tells the story of Rudy who is living his 1001st life. And it’s his last one. Each song on the album is sung by a different singer, which seems fine as each song is a chapter of its own – and indeed a life of its own. There is a reflecting quality to the story of looking back at all the past lives, which can also be tied to looking back at Bouillette’s legacy.

The album is masterfully executed and the blend of classic Progressive Rock, Jazz, Pop and Neo-Classical Rock weaves the musical journey that is as gorgeous as it’s complex. The conceptual roller coaster is perfectly accompanied by the musical one, which apart form displaying skill, impresses mostly by emotional impact. There is this massive epic feel to it with theatrics and even cinematic qualities, yet at the same time the album is down to earth and emotionally vulnerable.

Picking a different singer for each track works well and fits the concept, but it also adds to the dynamic of the album. And vocalists deliver their parts with conviction and their own identity. A good example of that is one of album highlights “The Lost” where guest vocalist Kristoffer Gildenlöw intensity and push-pull quality makes this fantastic song into an eminent song.

The Lightmaker doesn’t break any new grounds of the progressive genre, but it’s a textbook example of the impact of an impeccably crafted and honest collection of music can have. Nine Skies have decided to go on after Bouillette’s passing, and The Lightmaker is proof that that was a good decision.

www.nineskiesmusic.com