It's quite hard to believe it has already been over 10 years since the formation of Silent Voices. I still remember clearly the day four years ago when I listened to Chapter of Tragedy for the first time. Back then I considered Silent Voices as the Finland's most cutting edge progressive metal band (after all, there wasn't much competition back then). I also believed that the band would succeed... now having heard their third album "Building Up the Apathy" I see a group striving for success, but for me that group has lost its shimmer. Sure the band has evolved, and the music has progressed alongside, but the vocalist's performance lacks feeling (or to be more precise, Michael Henneken sounds pretentious for the most part of the recording). Nonetheless, at times he has really fortuitous parts - then he does sound rather natural, and he manages to deliver a lot of feeling on those sections as well. I just wish he could succeed like that on all of his vocal sections.

The music on this album is very similar to the previous albums. The band's main goal of making music in the vein of Dream Theater and Rush is still very prominent factor on their composing régime, and that's also what's holding this group back - it's about time Silent voices would start sounding more like Silent Voices. At times the material on this album is very good, but there are also moments I don't enjoy listening to. Especially some proggimmickry could have been left out. In addition, the too obvious DT influences on Hollowed are amusing (the song is a total DT rip off)... there's actually even a referral to LaBrie's Winter Rose project on the lyrics (I'm hollowed, Inside Me, I'm turning cold - The last touch, Left lifeless, Like a winter's rose).

Building Up the Apathy was recorded at Studio 57, Alaveteli, Finland between June and July 2005. Nino Laurenne mixed the album at Sonic Pump Studios and the finishing touch was provided by Svante Forsbäck of Chartmakers Studios in the form of mastering. The sounds are rather good, so this could well be the long-awaited album bringing the band into the limelight... if only the music would be more imaginative and Heineken could deliver all the time, their chances for success would be even better. As such, this album is too mediocre in my book.

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- MAGE (March 28th, 2006)

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LINE-UP:
Henneken, Michael: Vocals Kauppinen, Timo: Guitars Klingenberg, Henrik: Synthesizers, Rhodes and Glockenspiel Kauppinen, Pasi: Bass Koivisto, Jukka-Pekka: Drums
Producer:	Silent Voices
Mixing by:	Laurenne, Nino
Mastering by:	Forsbäck, Svante

	TRACKLIST:
	01. World's End 02. Distorted 03. Once Lost Life 04. Blood of Eden 05. Corridors 06. Hollowed 07. The Realm of Flames 08. Into the Flow Length: 59:55