All aboard the Prog-Jet! Welcome to Aionverse, best described as a journey across worlds - painted with a blend of timeless and nostalgic sounds, masterful compositions with twists and turns around every corner, yet anchored always with effortlessly cool bass lines.
The creator (Maestro), Baro, prefers to call this work a "Prog-Jet" rather than an album. Perhaps this is to differentiate that it's not just a collection of songs, but a proper rock opera which elevates the listening experience to that of being a passenger on the figurative Prog-Jet, soaring through the sky on an adventure to a far away land.
Before we depart on our flight, you should know that this is an album best suited for active listening. This is a prog rock album through and through, with no shortages of exciting chord changes and songs that weave in and out of various genres in the blink of an eye.
The sonic palate of Aionverse is one that's difficult to place in any one time. At times the production sounds straight out of an 80's prog rock album, other times with soundfonts that remind me of classic PS1 games such as Spyro the Dragon. When you pair this with the blend of raw acoustic recordings and the occasional alien-like spacey synths, the result is truly unique.
While much of the instrumentation and singing is performed by Baro himself, there is also a large roster of talented guest performers. My personal favorites being the contributions of Meghi Moschino's gorgeous voice in "Flow of Life"/"Bridle the Wind", and the jazz piano solos by Paolo Zanella in "Creator's Farewell" and "Crossing Pathways Part D". I must mention again Baro's great bass playing and cool bass lines, as it was definitely a highlight of the album for me.
I find this to be a great album for those who are interested in musical adventures and storytelling through composition and instrumental music (me!) but it might be a little difficult to follow for those who are more interested in lyrics and written story. I found myself mostly unable to understand the lyrics just through listening. While writing this review, Baro very kindly provided me with the lyric booklet, which has additional descriptions for each song that provides context for the story beyond just what is sung. On one hand, knowing more about the story helped me appreciate what the album is about, but I found the experience of listening while reading to be quite overwhelming, mostly due to the design of the booklet.
However, none of that stops me from enjoying the album. I even find myself frequently singing "Bridle the Wind" whenever I'm walking outside on a windy day now. I am still in awe at how much work it must have taken to complete this Prog-Jet, between the song writing, recording, collaboration logistics, and more. It really stands as a testament to what a person can accomplish when they have the passion and drive to make something great!