Review: BLAZE BAYLEY “Endure And Survive”

BLAZE BAYLEY “Endure And Survive” (Infinite Entanglement Part II)
March 3ed, 2017
Blaze Bayley Recordings

In the year of 2016, Blaze Bayley brought brilliant album “Infinite Entanglement”. Announced as conceptual trilogy, the album immediately turned my attention. Trilogy is supposed to be a Sci-Fi story about the first man to live for a thousand years, named William Black. If we turn back the wheel of time and analyze Blaze career, we can say that space theme takes roots in Iron Maiden period of “The X Factor” (1995, EMI) and “Virtual XI” (1998, EMI). It continues to “Silicon Messiah” (2000, Steamhammer) and one of my favorites “Tenth Dimension” (2002, Steamhammer).

William Black is sent on the longest space exploration mission in history of mankind. He was selected from the list of thousands of applicants for this unique journey. That album was outstanding and I could not wait to hear the next story. Surprisingly, sequel is delivered in less of the year (“Infinite Entanglement” was published on March 18^th 2016).

The story of William Black can be fallowed in 2017 through 10 songs:

1. Endure and Survive
2. Escape Velocity
3. Blood
4. Eating Lies
5. Destroyer
6. Dawn of the Dead Son
7. Remember
8. Fight Back
9. The World Is Turning the Wrong Way
10. Together We Can Move the Sun

Blaze is supported by Chris Appleton (guitar), Martin McNee (drums), and Karl Schramm (bass). This album, so as previous one, also features spoken word sections entrusted to Rob Toogood, Aine Brewer, and Michelle Sciarrotta.

List of album contributors is long: Luke Appleton (backing vocals), Jo Robinson (backing vocals), Melissa Adams (backing vocals), Thomas Zwijsen (nylon acoustic), Liz Owen (backing vocals), Anne Bakker (violin), Corvin Bahn (accordion).

Compared to “Infinite Entanglement”, “Endure and Survive” is slower, darker, more depressive. Knowing Blaze style-nothing strange.

Although album tempo does not fit my temperament, surprisingly, I prefer slower ones: “Remember” or “Together We Can Move the Sun”.

Original, remarkable, impressive, exceptional, outstanding. Great material for a book or movie. Think about it.

The countdown to final chapter of trilogy announced for 2018 can begin.

*I can not resist to write that labeling Blaze Bayley as ex Iron Maiden singer is unnecessary 20 years after he left the band and built brilliant solo career.