Perilous

Perilous
Studio album by Glass Hammer
Released	October 23, 2012
Recorded	2012 at Sound Resources, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Genre	Progressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock
Length	60:36[1]
Label	Arion Records/Sound Resources
Producer	Steve Babb and Fred Schendel
Glass Hammer chronology
Cor Cordium (2011) Perilous (2012) Ode to Echo (2014)

Perilous is the thirteenth studio album by American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released on October 23, 2012 by Arion Records/Sound Resources.

This is the last album with Jon Davison acting as sole lead vocalist, with former vocalists Susie Bogdanowicz and Carl Groves returning on the following album.^[2] It is also noteworthy to note that the song titles, when read in sequence, form a kind of poem. It is the first album featuring Davison in which he was not actively involved into the songwriting process, as he joined Yes previously in the year and was not available for the songwriting sessions.^[3]

As some previous albums like Journey of the Dunadan or Chronometree, Perilous is a concept album. However band member Steve Babb stated "we have never done a concept album like Perilous. It is essentially one unified vision; one musical idea in thirteen parts or movements. The emotions and ideas expressed in the lyrics ebb and flow with the music; but they have a definite story to tell with a beginning, middle and climactic end."

Concept

About the story of Perilous, Steve Babb stated "It should be obvious from the album art and the title Perilous that something dire is lurking just beyond that gate. Imagine two children lost in a cemetery at night and the unsavory characters they might meet as they try to find their way home. That is the setting for our allegory." However he stated that the listeners should interpret the ultimate meaning for themselves.^[1]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Phantom Toolbooth	[4]
Sea of Tranquillity	[5]
Something Else! Reviews	(positive)[6]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Steve Babb, all music composed by Babb, Fred Schendel and Alan Shikoh.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Sunset Gate"	7:37
2.	"Beyond They Dwell"	4:00
3.	"The Restless Ones"	3:36
4.	"They Cast Their Spell"	3:21
5.	"We Slept, we Dreamed"	7:41
6.	"The Years were Sped"	2:57
7.	"Our Foe Revealed"	6:27
8.	"Toward Home we Fled"	6:47
9.	"As the Sun Dipped Low"	1:32
10.	"The Wolf Gave Chase"	1:59
11.	"We Fell at Last"	1:55
12.	"In that Lonely Place"	3:10
13.	"Where Sorrows Died and Came No More"	6:34

Personnel

Glass Hammer Jon Davison – lead vocals[1] Fred Schendel – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals Steve Babb – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Alan Shikoh – electric, classical and acoustic guitars Production Steve Babb and Fred Schendel – producing Bob Katz - mastering R. T. Adolfo - cover artwork Julie Babb – administration

Additional musicians Randall Williams – drums The Adonia String Trio Rebecca James – violin Susan Hawkins-Whitacre – viola Rachel Hackenberger – cello Amber Fults - lead vocals in "In that Lonely Place" Carey Shinbaum - recorders, oboe Tim Wardle - additional backing vocals The McCallie School Guitar Choir (Bharath Venkatesh, Aaron Long, Ralston Hartness, Matthew Norris, Drew Shikoh and Charles Evans) - guitars The Chattanooga Girls Choir (Glory Larm, Laura Ayres, Brooke Pugsley, Kelsey Hodges, Katherine Stegal, Molly Stegall and Savannah Fanter) – choir Latin Choir (Stephanie Rumpza, Sarah Snyder, Kelly Luther, Dr. Thomas Hammett and Robert Waller) - choir

References

1. "Official Perilous page". Glass Hammer website. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
2. "PERILOUS". Glass Hammer website. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
3. "Steve Babb interview" (in French). Progressive Area. Retrieved 22 July 2014.