NUCLEUS

Where the debut Vemod, was like a twig,., holding on to a 70's branch of the Tree of Prog., Anekdoten have now matured a lot, and become its own very strong branch. With a very own sound and style troughout the album. The style have now become heavier and darker, and they deserve more the placement within Heavy Prog, even though i still doubt i would have put them there myself. I find the music to be more related to Electric than Heavy, especialy important that people that love King Crimson/Yes/Gentle Gain, should not be scared by the label. This is far from what I would traditionally consider Heavy Rock.

The album is a perfect patchwork of hard / soft - slow / fast - melodic / chaotic. No wonder Anekdoten became a strong name in Japan, this is raw fish with sugar and wasabi.

Everything on this album, falls perfectly together, in my taste. I love albums with old fasion strings, in this case Violin & Cello, that on top of the Mellotron, gives the "classic" feel to the album, that is so essentialy prog. The Bass very pounding in a Wetton like style, together with the stunning drumming, building a powerfull rythm section very varried and skillfully arranged. Guitars from smooth soft picklings to screaming leads, keys in every thinkable structure and sound. The vocal is admittedly not the best in the world, but it works fine in this textures.

I could only consider this a true masterpiece of 90's Prog. rock scene. But if you are particular about not liking too heavy influence in Your prog., You should consider bypassing this album, and get the next one (From Within) instead.