DIE KREISE SCHLIEßEN SICH

4.5 stars. I reviewed TRAUMPFAD's third studio album well over a year ago and to be honest I wasn't overly impressed. Well their second album has promptly blown me away, I'm in complete shock at how good this is. It's close to 5 stars, it's that good. Thankyou Todd so much for allowing me to hear this. Again we get German vocals and the sound is what I'd describe as heavy Neo-Prog in the ARENA tradition you could say. Clearly MARILLION is also an influence but this rocks a lot harder. I just can't get over how good these songs are, one after another I've enjoyed them so much. While I'm not big on German vocals man this guy can sing.

"In Ketten" opens with a power chord followed by piano then more as the tempo picks up and the vocals join in. There's an urgent rhythm here and I like especially when it settles after 1 1/2 minutes. Synths also join in. It kicks back in before 3 minutes. Love the contrasts. It settles back again before 4 1/2 minutes. The vocals are more passionate than usual late. "De Kreislauf Beginnt" opens with synths and energetic drumming as the vocals and guitar join in. Catchy stuff that sort of starts and stops. Sounds like mellotron too. Some crazy synths 4 minutes in then a calm with guitar, drums, bass and keys. So good. Trippy too. Melancholic synths join in. Great sound! It builds late to the end. "Der Heilige Hain" is different with the flute leading the way with drums until reserved vocals and mellotron join in. Gorgeous! A yell 2 minutes in signals the keyboards and some monster bass lines. Oh my! The guitar starts to lead. The flute is back as we get that opening theme repeated.

"Im Regen" is so uplifting when it settles. Lots of synths and keys here as the vocals join in. Not a big fan of the chorus that's repeated but overall this is a good song. Check out the theatrical vocals before 3 minutes and the inventive guitar work as the drums pound madly. Back to that pleasant sound. "Der Nachste Winter Kommt Bestimmt" opens with some beaautiful piano melodies as the drums, guitar and bass join in. Vocals a minute in and the tempo picks up before 3 1/2 minutes. Synths become prominent before 5 minutes as it settles back a little. Great sound. Guitar replaces the synths and man this is good. After 7 minutes were back to that opening theme.

"Totes Meer" is such a great sounding tune, it's fairly uptempo with vocals and some heaviness. It does settle before 2 minutes but not for long although these contrasts continue. A scream signals a killer uptempo guitar driven section before 5 minutes. "Der Goldene Berg" is an instrumental that opens with organ and more. Drums a minute in then a calm ends it. "Die Kreise Schliessen Sich" is mostly instrumental except for early on. It's uptempo and catchy. It settles 3 minutes in with mellotron and check out the synths. It's picking up 6 minutes in with the synths dominating. "Ein Neuer Tag Gesamtlaufzeit" is very MARILLION-like especially the vocals that remind me of Fish when he used to sing those ballad-like parts. Love that they did this here. Piano, vocals and drums stand out in this emotional song.

It's just been a pleasure listening to the recording. Well worth tracking down if you like that heavy sound with a Neo-Prog flavour.