Current State of Consciousness: dumbfounded awe.

OK, so yet another band has released a new album. This time it's the Dutch outfit Xystus. While I've listened to their previous two albums on Progulus Radio, I haven't gone out of my way to buy them, at least not yet. And I felt their last one was a bit underwhelming due to the rather short song lengths.

However, their new CD promises to blow everything else out of the water. Xystus traveled down an ambitious path this time in creating Equilibrio, a true Rock Opera. They enlisted the services of the Utrechtsch Studenten Concert (the oldest symphony orchestra in the Netherlands), as well as other vocalists and theater veterans to play the various characters in the story.

"The story of Equilibrio revolves around a wanderer named Diegu (Bas Dolmans) who finds himself caught between the forces of good and evil - the power mad ruler Primos (John Vooijs) and the altruistic rebel Avelin (Michelle Splietelhof). Primos makes a pact with Death (George Osthoek) to take over the world. After unsuccessful efforts by Diegu to mediate between Avelin and Primos, the latter ends up with complete power and the world is thrown out of balance. Diegu is summoned by the godess Lady Sophia (Simone Simons). She watches over Earth and entrusts Diegu with the job of reuniting Primos and Avelin in order to restore the balance between good and evil again."
- From The Laser's Edge

Take a listen for yourself. Fans of symphonic metal should enjoy this.