WHO'S THE BOSS IN THE FACTORY?

Karmakanic

Symphonic Prog

4.06 | 507 ratings

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Bonnek
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

Neo-sympho-prog is the kind of music I usually avoid but since this Karmakanic has got such a good reception I decided to ignore my recent Transatlantic trauma and have a go at it anyway.

Well I'm glad I did, even though, as I had feared, it has turned out to be a rather frustrating experience. Not because it is any bad but because I hear so much potential here that does not get fulfilled. Or rather, it gets fulfilled, but then crushed down again the next moment. Generally, this band plays excellent symphonic prog with lots of interesting grooves, progressions, solos and high-standard musicianship but, hmm, those vocals again.

The sticky finale around minute 17.00 of the epic Send a message from the heart serves as an good example, so much gospel-flavoured melodrama is hard to swallow, especially if you compare it to the great things they can achieve on the fusion infected guitar solo that follows right after it. Can a song get any more frustrating? How am I supposed to enjoy that solo without having to succumb to the vocals that precede it. (Well maybe that solo isn't all that great but just sounds good because the preceding part is so weak, a cunning trick for sure!)

The remainder of the album isn't much more consistent and keeps going back and forth between fun prog rock like Let In Hollywood and trite commercial rock vocals as in Two Blocks From The Edge. The title track is great and so is the album closer Eternally, at least till they decide to 'do a Queen' on it and spoil the last 2 minutes with bombastic pathos and big hallow sentimental gestures.

This time I can at least understand the excitement around this but I can't fully share it. Well, it's certainly a lot better then Transatlantic and I guess I'll return to listen to it. Still, frustrating, as it is almost so darn good. 3.5 stars.

Bonnek | 3/5 | 2009-12-1

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