Ryan Sparks at Classic Rock Revisited recently caught up with ex-SPOCK'S BEARD frontman Neal Morse to discuss his new solo album, Testimony 2. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Ryan: Testimony 2 is of course the sequel or the continuation of the story of Testimony. Were you working on this gradually over the years since that first album or did you literally just set some time aside, write the songs and then head into the studio and record it?

Neal: "I remember having some ideas about Jayda's healing when I was doing the first Testimony album. I realized that was such a big part of my story that I hadn't told. I talked about it at the live shows and on the DVD. I remember having something in my mind about that, but it never seemed like the right time to do a Testimony 2. I didn't really have anything in my mind, except for these vague things . Then I had a bunch of ideas come to me after the summer tour with TRANSATLANTIC was over. I came home from that and felt that I had to write a book. During the time that I was working on that, which from around July to September of last year, some music was coming to me. Particularly in October there was a lot of music floating around in my mind so I started putting things down on a hand held recorder. Towards the end of October and the beginning of November, I began to try to organize it, but I had no idea what it all wanted to be. Then I got an e-mail from a friend of mine in Holland who suggested I make a Testimony 2. That was the catalyst that made me think that maybe it was time. So I started praying about it and it felt like it was time, so I started working on it like crazy ."

Ryan: Was it easier this time around? I mean when you began the first record it was all new for you. You had just broken away from Spock's and Testimony was your first album on your own. So was it easier to pick up where you'd left off and continue the story?

Neal: "Well, it's always a challenge to try and figure out what's important. What to say, what not to say, how to say it and how to fit it all together. One of the hardest things I had to tackle on this record was trying to describe how I felt about my daughter in five syllables and have it rhyme with the word 'whole'. I just laboured over that for three or four days because I wanted it to be something poetic. So I finally came up with ' A song from my soul' which I felt really said it for me. The sweetness of a song and the depth of the soul. All of those things are really a challenge though, to try and make it all fit together. That's the task of writing and I felt like the Lord really helped me on this one."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Picking up where he left off on Testimony, the sequel begins with Neal in the mid-‘90s when his band, Spock's Beard, begins to experience unexpected success. Neal sings about their glory days in 'Time Changer' and the original band members join in. It’s a vocal extravaganza in their classic style and an extraordinary moment.

The album goes on to tell of Morse's daughter, Jayda, being born with a heart defect. Her miraculous healing has an unexpected impact on Neal, with repercussions that reverberate throughout the album.

Morse goes on into later years, quitting his regular gig in the ERIC BURDON band, and continuing with Spock’s Beard. Along the way, he discovers something beyond his imagination. The album concludes with 'Crossing Over', which describes his ultimate departure from Spock's Beard in 2002.

Neal Morse launched his solo career, the next year, with Testimony. With the sequel, Testimony 2, he dives deeper into unchartered musical and lyrical territory. Incorporating legendary drummer MIKE PORTNOY and brilliant bassist Randy George, this breathtaking album is a prog epic with breadth that dazzles and melodies that reach into the soul.

The story ends here (for now), but the music goes on. On the second CD, the songs include a 25-minute progressive rock epic featuring STEVE MORSE. In addition, the Testimony 2 Special Edition includes a behind-the-scenes DVD documentary about the making of the album.

Neal's largest tour, ever, will bring Testimony 2 to audiences throughout Europe and the United States. Coinciding with the album and tour will be the release of his autobiography, appropriately entitled Testimony. Together, all three occasions make for a unique artistic achievement, and Neal's greatest undertaking, to date.

Testimony 2 was released on Radiant Records, with distribution by Metal Blade/RED/SONY and Inside Out/EMl, on May 23rd.