OF TWO MINDS, STAGES 1-2 THE APE AND THE CAGE

This is another band I could see on stage at the ProgtoberFest, and wow, I also decided to listen to them and write a review just because they made us have a great time there. In The Presence of Wolves knew how to get us involved in spite their heavy and really loud sound that maybe some of us aren't that use to dig.

They have a new EP released this 2017 that features 5 songs and half an hour of pretty cool heavy prog rock (it could be metal, why not). It opens with the delicate 'As We Speak, Pt. 1' which doesn't have anything of heavy prog, but works as a good introductory EP track. Now we are talking, 'The One Who Fell to Earth' will make you move your head and body, its rhythm is much more addictive and of course, heavier. I am afraid their live performance bring louder moments than the studio ones, because on stage I could bet they were a metal band, but in studio they don't really sound like metal, but heavy prog rock. Great guitar work on this track, by the way.

With 'White Noise' I could not help remembering Coheed and Cambria, Stamato's voice is quite alike to Claudio S'nchez. The music is a bit djently, with great strings and wonderful drums. There is a great instrumental passage here, so the band knows how to give worthy moments with and without lyrics. The longest track comes next, a challenging 10-minute song 'The Ape and The Cage'. It opens with acoustic guitar and vocals, a soft first minute that leads to an explosion of heavy moments, several changes in time and mood and a so powerful sound that in moments is contrasted by the charm of the backing vocals and that acoustic guitar. Again, you can enjoy both the instrumental passages and the moments with voice.

The album finishes with 'M.U.A. (Manipulation Under Anesthesia)', an 8-minute track very well composed, again with several changes, with great strings work and clean heavy vocals. The djently feeling is also here, but they are far from being a djent band, let me clarify. The musicianship is great here, it is clear the guys are talented composers and performers, and it is also clear that this release can be easily loved by fans of modern heavy prog alt rock bands.

Enjoy it!