REVOLU$ION

After all the high ratings this album was getting, I was naturally inclined to check it out. Wasn't expecting to share the enthusiasm and it turns out I don't. It's still a good album though, not extremely original or groundbreaking but generally enjoyable nonetheless. Nemo are a French band who sing in French. This is the first album I have heard from them so I don't know how to compare it to their earlier work. On Revolu$ion anyway, the sound is some sort of Neo- Prog/Prog Metal hybrid. Judging by the song titles the album seems to be some concept about politics and revolution in general.

Generally the instrumental sections feature the most interesting music. "Je Suis en Objet" starts with some funk-rock guitar and digital synths as the other instruments come in. The music gets more symphonic sounding later on. What the drummer is doing sounds interesting but I can't really make it out due to the mixing/mastering. After awhile things go into prog metal territory. The title track is very 1980s and Neo sounding. The chorus is almost punk sounding. "Seul Dans la Foule" begins segued from the previous song. Fairly laid-back for the first few minutes. Then some really cool bass synth. The song ends up becoming more of a symph/prog metal hybrid. "Chiens en Laisse" is more Neo sounding, gets more metallic during the second half.

"Loins des Yeux (Barbares parties VIII a XII)" is the 24 minute epic of the album. Excuse the following rant, but I don't understand the need for 20-minute epics in the post-vinyl world. (Yes I know vinyl is still around but you get my point). Why not 15 minutes or 30 minutes? Making a 20-minute song to me just seems like you are pandering to the prog crowd. Anyway, let's talk about that song now. Overall a pretty bombastic and symphonic track. Lots of metal guitar too. Some electronic beats are used to good effect. Acoustic guitars and more interesting drumming with a snare drum sound I don't like too much. Nice vocal harmonies. The guitar solos are generally good but not very original. I like the mix of metal riffing and piano around 10 1/2 minutes.

This is followed by a great symphonic part with powerful, emotive singing. After a piano and vocal dominated section it goes back to prog metal territory, where this album likes to stay a lot. I like how the guitar solo from around 16 minutes gets panned back and forth in the stereo spectrum; you don't hear that much anymore. Nice section with piano and electric guitar for awhile. You hear some bagpipe toward the end, followed by some fuzz-wah guitar. The whole band comes in prog metal style as the bagpipe solos away. Ends symphonic metal.

"Notes pour plus Tard..." is the last track and starts off with some great synth bass and then a lovely piano melody which I swear I have heard before somewhere. Before you know it those metal guitars are just around the corner. I really like the melodic guitar playing in unison with the piano. Overall not a bad album but nothing to text home about either. I hate the mastering of this album; too loud and very little dynamics. The drumming in particular suffers from it. My final verdict will be 3 stars.