ADDICTED

After the brilliant success of this year's "Holophinium" album, KariBow frontman Oliver Rusing decided to remix and release the album "Man of Rust" from 2011. It will be released shortly, by the way.

In between these two albums was "Addicted" (2014). Though I haven't heard "Man of Rust" yet, I know "Holophinium" is a wonderful adventure in melodic crossover prog rock. "Addicted's" main feature is the remarkably beautiful vocal melodies and very adult contemporary melodic rock style. Listen to the first track "Change" and you'll know what I mean. Song after song has beautiful and memorable melodies, so much so that you could almost imagine getting tired of them. But you can't! At least I can't.

But with all those lovely songs that sound like they are more mainstream music - mature, intelligent, and well-crafted mind you - you shouldn't toss the album aside for being too pop. Though not as obviously in progressive country as "Holophinium", "Addicted" does set a few footprints there and early on, too! The second track, "Primeval", stretches out to include a more atmospheric part in the middle. Later "Collaborator" sticks a cool bass line in your face. "F8A1 Ba6" is the first track to really throw progressive-type music at you and lets you understand the band is not only having fun but are good at doing something more lively and challenging. The final track "9/16" is also a longer one and concludes with a powerful and melodic climax.

All the other tracks in between sway between simpler-sounding mainstream melodic AOR and somewhat more complex music added into mainstream melodic rock. But Mr. Rusing says that the music on "Addicted" can be easily enjoyed for its obvious melodies while some of the more complex parts of the music escape the unwary ear.

I'd say that if you consider a band like Saga who have done a number of very good, more mainstream-oriented albums, or Rush who applied prog experience to shorter songs, you can imagine how KariBow, with a strong prog background, could produce an album of such memorable melodies (I see special collaborator Angelo has likened KariBow to Toto and Survivor) . No, this is not obviously challenging or adventurous music. But it's an album that is very beautifully and expertly done.