INSIDE THE ATMOSPHERE

The description by Progarchives talks about comparison with Evergrey and Vandenplas, two tremendous prog metal bands. So time to check it out, I would say. Well, this appears a great discovery. I like average prog metal, that is not too much in the direction of heavy metal (Wolverine, Savatage at it's toughest) and neither going too mellow (Anathema, Tool in some of their works). Just plain prog metal that's what I like best. And Atmosfear fits exactly in that description. When I saw the tracktimes I already got enthusiastic because there were many long tracks, that predicted progressive potential. And that's exactly how it appeared to be.

Atmosfear deserves much more attention than they got so far on progarchives, so prog metal fans: time to check this one out !! Absolute highlight to me: Zephaniah, fantastic track, all you may expect from prog metal. Only downside is Eleanor Rigby: What on earth ... ??? Well I forgive them. This one is a solid 4 stars.

Another interesting aspect: Oliver Wulff voice sounds somewhat like Khan (Conception, Kamelot) and he is very popular amongst prog metal fans, so... The rest of the band's sound isn't really like Kamelot by the way, Conception comes closer.

I just discovered this band and I must say i was surprised. Although they have some similar sounds to bands like Dream Theater and even Evergrey, they do have their own unique sound. The vocalist is very good, the melodies throughtout the album are very good. the guitar riffs are well done. The opening track Inside the Atmosphere is one of the best on the album along with the epic song Zephaniah I also enjoyed the song Thinking Progressive. If your into Dream Theater, Darkwater, Circus Maximus then you will enjoy this album.

Man, traditional prog metal can't get a critical break this days. Chances are, if you take prog structures of the 70s, marry it to crowd- pleasing melodies of 80s metal and production heaviness of the 90s and add melodic vocals (the so-called Dreamtheater clones) , you won't get much reviews from us here on Progarchives. Too bad for Germany's Atmosfear (they actually write the "o" with a 0), who actually have much to succeed in this genre, including, but not limited to, a very good versatile vocalist, who does an excellent croon. Atmosfear rarely go into speed and instrumental overdrive like Dreamtheater (I think that the often criticized overreach of DT is actually the thing that makes it them, standing apart from everybody else), but these Germans are a real prog metal band, not a power/gothic/death etc metal with prog touches. Melodies and time signatures rarely stay in one place, moving constantly to the point that the thing that ties the song together is a catchy chorus. Sometimes this makes it hard to remember the song itself. Other than that, the usual suspect - lyrics, - and the fact that this album is not exactly original, I have no complaints about Inside the Atmosphere (correct spelling this time), and nor should any prog metal fan.

Once again, Germany has produced another amazing, yet totally obscure and (sadly) unheard of progressive metal band, this one going by the name of Atmosfear.

Released six years after their debut three-track single, 'Inside the Atmosphere' could be accused of being another 'generic prog metal' album. And whilst I agree that there isn't really anything new or innovative here... why does there need to be?

While crunchy, heavy, yet melodic guitar riffs are in full flow here, a lot of the music is very keyboard-driven, which makes for some really cool compositions. Songs worth checking out include 'Mysterious', 'Feardrops' and 'Patience', all definitely worth the price if you can find this album reasonably cheap.

Unfortunately, to counter some of the better songs, there are also some very bland and very generic songs here, which really makes the album drag on for a staggering 75 minutes! There is also a rather uninteresting cover of the Beatles' 'Elenor Rigby' which really adds nothing to the record.

Overall, there isn't too much to comment on really. It's a standard prog metal album. Nothing amazingly new, but the good songs definitely make this an album worth having.