Shadow Gallery

The Pennsylvania progressive metal band whose Room V (2005) continues the concept begun on Tyranny, with "Comfort Me".

From Sorcerer to Magna Carta

Shadow Gallery began in the mid-1980s in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania as Sorcerer, a cover band playing difficult Yngwie Malmsteen and Rush songs. The original members were Mike Baker, Carl Cadden-James, Ron Evans and John Cooney; Brendt Allman and Chris Ingles joined in 1985, with Ingles moving to keyboards at once and Evans leaving. The name Shadow Gallery comes from Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta. Drum machines served until 1994, and Gary Wehrkamp, previously of The Boxtops, joined in 1992 or April 1993 depending on which part of Wikipedia you read. Mike Varney signed them to Magna Carta Records on August 23, 1991, the label's second contract.

The debut Shadow Gallery appeared in 1992 in Japan and Europe. Carved in Stone (July 11, 1995) runs 71 minutes and ends with the 29-minute eight-part suite Ghostship; AllMusic gave it 4.5 of 5. Tyranny (September 22, 1998) was their first concept album, about a defense worker disenchanted with his job, with James LaBrie, D. C. Cooper and Laura Jaeger among the guests, and Rock Hard gave it 10 out of 10. Legacy (2001) was the last for Magna Carta and holds the 34-minute five-part First Light. In 1998 Allman, Cadden-James and Wehrkamp helped on James LaBrie's MullMuzzler debut.

Room V and after

Room V, their fifth album, was the first for InsideOut and the first without Ingles, who contributed to the writing before leaving, and the last with Mike Baker. Baker died on October 29, 2008, aged 45, and Wehrkamp said the band would continue. Brian Ashland sang on Digital Ghosts (2009), with Baker heard on two bonus tracks, "Two Shadows" and "World of Fantasy".

The band did not play live until 2010. The Triton Power Cruise was cancelled, and the first show was on September 5, 2010 at the Barley Creek Brewing Company in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, followed by headlining ProgPower Europe in Baarlo on October 2 and a European tour that month. In 2013 they played RoSfest in Gettysburg and ProgPower USA in Atlanta. Setlist.fm lists 19 setlists, the last on October 13, 2013 in Athens. A benefit concert was held at the Sherman Theater on December 26, 2015 and the infobox lists the band as on hold since 2016. Wikipedia compares them to Dream Theater and Symphony X and names Rush, Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd among their influences.

Albums

Shadow Gallery 1992
A 1992 album.
Carved In Stone 1995
A 1995 album.
Tyranny 1998
A 1998 album.
Legacy 2001
A 2001 album.
Room V 2005 · InsideOut
Their fifth album, divided into Act III and Act IV of the story begun on Tyranny.
Digital Ghosts 2009
A 2009 album.