Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Vox Tempus - In the Eye of Time - 2004 --Nailer

Track Listing1. The Voice Without 2. Shadow Of A Lie 3. It’s Only For Forever

Vox Tempus first came together around January of 1997, as members of the progressive rock band Equinox, but during the recording session for a follow-up release to 'Color of the Time', the lineup splintered, but continued on as Equinox. As the songs were written and recorded for the new album, the band went through several vocalists and finally, after going through over a hundred submissions from throughout North America, the group finally settled on Dan Reed. In late 2002, during the tail end of the mixing process, drummer Eric Althaus chose to part ways with the band. In light of this, the band changed their name to Vox Tempus. To date, the current line up of Vox Tempus is Ray Mantor (guitar), Jim Turba (bass), Eric Ragno (keyboards), and Dan Reed (vocals).

With 'In the Eye of Time', these guys have hands down, the best independently made prog-rock CD I've heard this year and if they can keep themselves together and successfully utilize Progman Records, stand to be major players in their genre. Everything on this debut from the packaging to production to image to playing ability is consistent and as top-notch as a major label release.

"Prior to Vox Tempus we've all worked on different projects in a lot of different capacities. When we started production on "In the Eye of Time" we worked with a few people in pre-production. I ended up doing most of the mixing of the basic tracks in my home studio...and as the remainder of the material came together I started honing my production skills. By the time the album was ready to be mixed everyone felt that I should be the one to produce and mix the material because I had a pretty solid grasp on what we were trying to achieve. It was truly a learning experience for all of us...I think that in producing it I was able to capture some things that may have been overlooked had someone else done it since they wouldn't be as close to it. It's tough to pick and choose what to keep and what to pass on when you start dissecting your own creations. Fortunately we were able to find a good balance and came out with something that has better production then some things we have heard out there that were done in major studios." --Ray Mantor

Dan Reed shows both power and restrait with an amazing tone that would make Styx vocalist Dennis DeYoung weep for the glory days of youth. His vocal control is superior to most and it nicely compliments the guitars which are reminicsent of lighter Savatage with the airyness of Rush's tempered chord work. The natural keys are thankfully played without a load of showy scale runs. Two of the nine songs are instumentals, but 'Love, Lies And Treason' clocks in at a hefty 13 minutes plus. Overall, it's not a rocker kind of disc, though it would be a good listen on those lightly rainy days when you want to settle in with a mug of hot tea and procrastinate.

I always expect the prog guys to have their belongings in order and Vox Tempus is proof that great bands may not need the services of a record company. Progman Records is lucky to partner with these guys.

On the name Vox Tempus:
"We've always had a fascination with the concept of time and music has been a constant since the very beginning. It's always been there regardless or the language, culture, or era. With that, it could be said that music would be the Voice of Time. Since it captures, much like a photo, a moment in time. Latin, being a dead language...emphasizes the passing of time. The two combined came together with a pretty cool sounding name that we really felt fit the band."--Ray Mantor

The first single, For Every Life, available as a free download in its entirety at http://www.vox-tempus.com/promo/For-Every-Life.mp3


--Nailer 01.01.05