The music as a whole is, in a word, ethereal. Blending aspects from progressive bands like Dream Theater and the more radio friendly styles of Coldplay, Vestascension create a dynamic sound that is accessible yet deep; there’s no overload on wank or much in the way of pretension, and the interplay between the two vocalists, the guitar, and the delicate keyboards creates the ideal ‘dream rock’ sound without ever sounding boring or diluted. The drums and bass are serviceable, but they often feel lacking in the mix – although the drums can be active and engaging from time to time, and even the highlight of a few songs like “Lifoliage” or “Wishes in Awakenings“.Read the full review at themonolith.com
Gate To Fulfilled Fantasies is a concept album, yet each track can be enjoyed as individual song. The inspiration of the lyrics can be found in the mythology of the ancient Egypt, but the lyrics aren’t based on any specific story or myth.
The music on the disc is a mixture of exotic sounds, cosmic themes, effects and guitar solos combined in lasting over 55 minutes suite. The author says: The first notes of the album were born in my head two years ago. My intention was to compose the music for some movie but the more I worked on it the more it took the form of "songs" merging into one cohesive theme I could release as the CD. This is a very personal album. The expression of my escapism. I am running away from people, religion, politics, ideologies, hypocrisy and hatred. I run away into myself into the world of tones sounding in my soul.
"Protein for Everyone” caustically details the nagging neuroses bubbling under the surface of everyday life and imagines a brave new world where you can sell parts of your anatomy to be processed into cheap tasty meat for easy cash. Occasionally melancholic and blackly humorous lyrics are wrapped in a musical blanket of odd time signatures; fizzing with lively energetic progressive arrangements that have a pop sensibility, luring you in with three part harmonies and earworm melodies before wigging out on an inappropriate glockenspiel and fuzz bass solo in 10/8.
The album includes the epic, eccentric and wonderful lengthy track ‘Dipsosable Outcomes’. With influences such as early Soft Machine, Supersister, White Denim, The Mothers of Invention, Stephen Malkmus and the Canterbury scene, "Protein for Everyone” is one of the most original and striking releases in Progressive music of 2014.
Crysis features twelve compositions displaying an incredible musical variety. For example we start off with “The Grand Gate Opening” [1:53] a rather straight forward symphonic synthesizer solo that builds hauntingly and dramatically proposing something grand and panoramic only to switch gears with track two, “A Centurion’s Itchy Belly” [4:34] which starts out like something off a Split Enz album and then proceeds to go through more stylistic permutations than you can imagine all presented in a jaunty, up-tempo happy go lucky, cartoonish feel. Next up is “Rocky Valleys of Dawn”, the album’s first vocal track and it again displays a Split Enz, New Wave feel, up-tempo and rocking without the heavy crunching guitar. There’s even a Ska version of the Roy Orbison 60’s classic “Pretty Woman” [2:25]! There’s no question all of Ziblat’s musical schooling in those other genres finds a welcome home in his unique approach to contemporary pop music. It’s all very hooky, all very catchy and hummable and yet full of intricate instrumental virtuosity and complex compositional craft.Media/Samples
Modest Midget have taken a noticeable step forward following up on their first release, delivering a great set of tunes that will appeal to fans of Arty music full of proggy influences and embellishments. There are so many great moments on this disc and so much more the reason to recommend it. If you’ve never listened to Modest Midget I urge you to check’em out.(Jerry Lucky)
The quintet combines atmospheric elements and progressive rock/metal influences, always focussing on the ambience of a song as well as unconventional rhythms and parts out of the ordinary.
The first track with a bombastic opening sets the tone and the Symphony X influences and singing style are recognized. The typical rhytmn in the second track (with some 70's keyboard parts) make me think of (who still knows that fabulous band) Maraya in their 'No Hope For Humanity' period. "Watch Me Rise"is a faster more chaotic starting track with a nice drive, sometimes slowed down by melodic singing parts. "The Age of Sadness" is a slower more melodic track with Angra references. "Wings of Destruction" sets off like a track from the first Dream Theater album with very tight drumming and the same kind of atmosphere, "Phoenix" is one of the most straight forward tracks with a nice riff, a contagious melody and a nice almost AOR sounding refrain. Songs with a title "Alone" need most of the times no comment on what kind of style they are and indeed you guessed it. Every good album needs a ballad and with this track they fill that need.Read the full review by Reinier de Vries at powerofmetal.dk
Father Figure are a 5-piece instrumental jazz-rock fusion band from New York. On their second full-length album, everything is made in-house (the band is mostly audio engineers). Here, the completely DIY approach yields an expansive sound. This album introduces the group's violinist Taka Aochi, entering them into an entirely new dimension of songwriting. Heavy Meddlers is rich in composition and arrangement, and possesses a level of depth that begs for repeat listens. With beautiful art by photographer Sean Mack, the album becomes an evocative and astonishing expression of spirit.
Sophomore album from this Brazilian band mining the melodic prog metal sound so beloved of their countrymen. Tons of crunch and great melodies really make these guys stand out. A great addition to the heavy melodic metal scene and definitely for fans of bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X and Pagan's Mind. (progmetalzone.com)
The sound is reminiscent of Post Rock/Metal, as there are hints of Tool and definitely Isis in there, with hints of Progressive Metal and Shoegaze in there as well. “Devoid Of Purpose” gives the listener the first taste of the band’s layered, atmospheric approach. Siegmar Pohl’s airy vocal delivery and the alternation between clean and dense, distorted guitars create an engaging, yet enigmatic effect, sometimes light and spirited, at other times somewhat dark and brooding. If not for the sheer length of the song, I could definitely see it getting airtime on the radio, as the overall sound is catchy and very listenable despite its variety of components.Read the full review by Andrew Sifari at metal-temple.com
While listening to this “The Mechanisms of Consequence” (TMC) you get the impression that Synaptik have a universal passport that takes them from one musical territory to another without border control even batting an eyelid. At its core the music is an enjoyable Thrash Metal but there are also several hints of Death Metal, particularly with the style of drumming. Power Metal can be invoked in some melodies and if you listen carefully you might hear some riffs with the dark ambience of Black Metal. And of course, when you consider these genre affiliations as well as the numerous tempo breaks and mood swings, the Progressive genre is automatically added to the picture. Despite its multi-facetedness the album feels very homogenous.Read the full review by Chris Galea at powerofmetal.dk
Aranis, year 2014: a Belgian band that brings something definitely off the beaten tracks! The second installment in their "Made in Belgium" series (aka MIB 2) is now on the road...and it's more captivating than a thriller! In it, a subtle blend of rejuvenated classical influences mix with (aming other things and with no specific order) a touch of drumless/ clarinetless Balkanic Klezmer- punk, a glimpse of 100% Brussels- deserts tango and a few improvised moments that manage to never really sound like "jazz"...No easy label comes to mind when it comes to describe Aranis' sound...and so its should be! A pretty unpredictable sextet...Classical? Jazz? Folk? Rock?...Well, a little bit of all this...That's what you'll taste in the Aranis pizza! So, why wouldn't you treat your ears and get a slice of it? With real chunks of Peter Vermeersch (FES), Koen Van Roy (Cro Magnon), Walter Hus (Maximalist!), Ananta Roosens (La sieste du dromadaire), Aurélie Dorzée (Aurélia) and many others...