Destiny finally plays its hand when after years of clashing schedules and mutual admiration, the players of Andeavor and prog’s favorite sons Leger De Main triumphantly meet over a cup of steaming hot musical intensity. At the height of Leger’s breakthrough triumph, the well-respected and highly visible The Concept of Our Reality, Andeavor’s driving force—the guitar-wielding Steve Matusik—tried to squeeze in creative sessions with the Rodler brothers. Drummer Brett Rodler and guitarist/keyboardist Chris Rodler were busy with the fray success had suddenly brought to their doorstep, and Matusik poured his energy into crafting Andeavor’s Once Upon Time.

As Leger’s maelstrom slowly subsided into normalcy, Andeavor’s star began to rise, peaking with a landmark performance at Baltimore’s prestigious Powermad festival in 1999. Finally with a few free moments on his hands, Brett sought Matusik’s unique Lifeson-esque fretboard skills, only to find Andeavor pursuing its own dream.

With Brett contemplating a much-needed break before the impending release of new PMM projects like Razor Wire Shrine, Matusik’s schedule began to lighten. At the urging of PMM maestro Chris Rodler, Brett pursued Matusik yet again, this time finding the perfect opportunity to combine the fierce intensity of Leger de Main with Andeavor’s theatrical bombast. A progressive powerhouse sure to satisfy, Mythologic’s Standing in Stillness finds the musicians in top notch form, delivering the musicianship and song writing skills both camps have made their trademark.

With the musical foundation set, the duo turned to the multitalented and multitasking Chris Rodler to anchor the bass and second guitar chores, as well as help with scoring a few intricate instrumental passages. But, the trio still needed a voice.

After sifting through numerous macho metal-wannabe applicants, Leger’s own Melissa Rodler eventually picked up the mic for lead vocals. Her smooth and impassioned delivery lends increased depth to the disc’s open-ended yet introspective lyrics, which she composed after agreeing to tackle the Mythologic giant. Melissa added the unifying factor when reprising a Leger storyline, adding new context to the popular stories of The Concept of Our Reality’s "To Live the Truth" and Second First Impression’s "The Story" with Standing in Stillness’ epic "Flash of Red."

The disc opens with the stunning, attention-grabbing a cappella beauty of "Magic to Breathe" before jumping into the polyrhythmic riff-heavy storm of "In Solitude." Eschewing the increasingly popular (and annoying) Dream Theater clone cliches, Matusik and Rodler stick firmly rooted in solid song structure while interweaving manic dual guitar passages and inventive, off-kilter heavy riffing within Melissa’s melodic constructions. Think of the best Rush and Fates Warning thrown in a blender with a dash of King Crimson and a heavy dose of Songwriting 101; ear-bleeding shredders were not welcome at the Mythologic sanctum.

Standing in Stillness' aura is completed by John Trevethan—a producer/sound engineer/technical advisor who has worked with luminaries like Peter Collins and Glen Rosenstein on popular albums by Echolyn, Queensryche, and Grey Eyed Glances. An established force within progressive rock, Trevethan honed the sound and mix of Standing in Stillness to sheer perfection, avoiding the all-too-common trap of burying busy progressive performances in a muddied mix. Much like the sun in a clear summer sky, Mythologic’s skill and fire clearly shines, warmly engaging the listener.