Artist: Neverland 
   Title: Reversing Time
   Label: AFM Records

Take Turkish Metallers Dreamtone and add Greek female vocalist Iris Mavraki and what you get is new addition to the Prog Metal scene Neverland.

The two entities may have come from very different backgrounds, but when these two come together what you get is an explosion of pure Melodic Power Metal with classical overtones.  These can be found in abundance on their debut release 'Reversing Time', which also boasts a guest artist list that includes Blind Guardian's Hansi Kűrsch, Evergrey’s Tom Englund and Mike Baker and Gary Wehrkamp of Shadow Gallery fame, as well as the Istanbul Philarmonia Orchestra.

The resulting collaboration is 'Reversing Time', which gets underway with ‘Shooting Star’ and straight away the orchestral part of the whole Neverland sound is instantly recognisable, with Oganalp Canatan taking over the vocals on this opening mêlée as the band set the precedent for the rest of the album, with some spellbinding rhythm sections all interwoven with the fantastic guitar work of Onur Ozkoc.

The album continues with a powerful Progressive Metal track in the form of ‘To Lose The Sun’.  A track that emerges from a slow orchestral intro that envelopes the listener in a cacophony of rampaging guitars and drums, before the majestic overtones of Canatan’s vocals make the track their own.

With ‘Mankind Is A Lie’ we get the first chance to hear the very talented vocal prowess of Iris Mavraki as she brings a touch class to the album, not that Canatan’s vocals aren’t inspiring, but I think the mix of male and female vocals adds a new dimension to any Prog/Power Metal band.

The album continues with ‘Everlasting Tranquillity’, this time we get to hear Mavriki in all her magnificence as she allows her vocals to tower above the orchestra’s mellow tones and lift the whole ambiance of the album.

The album may not have been listed as a concept album but it certainly has that feel about it as things continue with the title track ‘Reversing Time’.  Again it’s the orchestra that gets things underway then the rhythm section and guitars take over to produce a huge atmospheric sound that is just magnificent and encapsulates the whole Neverland sound.

With ‘Black Water’ the tempo of the whole album is lifted up with its thunderous opening before Canatan and Mavraki's combined vocals plunder the senses with their overture of melody and grace, really making this song a standout track off the album.

The album continues to impress with ‘Mountain of Judgement’, again a very atmospheric track that opens up with Mavraki and a gentle keyboard, then builds from these humble beginnings and melts into the next track ‘Mountain Of Joy’.  Another magnificent soaring slice of Power Metal that just has a hint on Battle Metal about it.

The album takes a definite turn of styles with ‘World Beyond These Walls’.  This gentle almost Melodic/AOR style song reflects the more sensitive side of the band, while still retaining that edge with some fantastic guitar work from Ozkoc and those ever present orchestral soundings.

The album closes with ‘Transcending Miracle’, again the orchestra gets things underway before the band really get their teeth into the track, as Ozkoc and rhythm guitarist Burak Kahraman make their presence known, along with the Can Dedekarginoglu on bass and Emrecan Sevdin on drums.  The sheer splendour of this instrumental just rises above all that has gone before and ends what is a very very good album and one that I’m sure put the name of Neverland on the lips of every Prog/Power Metal fan out there when they hear this album.

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