AS THE WORLD

Defining the sound of this American band is quite complicated. We can talk about a blend of YES, GENESIS, GENTLE GIANT, KING CRIMSON and even LED ZEPELLIN, but still, we will be short of compliments regarding the fresh and original sound of one of the best progressive rock bands of the nineties that was unfairly disregarded by its record label, Sony Music, which acquired the copyrights upon this band to be canned up eventually and never edit them again, turning the band into material for completionists only.

Created and interpreted in 1995 by Christopher BUZBY (keyboards, vocals), Tom HYATT (bass), Brett KULL (guitar and vocals), Paul RAMSEY (percussions) and Ray WESTON (lead vocals), "As the World" proves that it is not imperative for songs to last more than six minutes to be considered as progressive; the disc is composed of 16 cuts which durations vary from 0:36 to 7:54 and with musical humors that go from a ballad to metal.

ECHOLYN is one of the few prog rock bands where the combination of voices makes us forget for a moment about the instruments; the vocals by WESTON, KULL and BUZBY are energetic and melodic, briefly and in short musical passages they can remind us of Peter HAMILL or even Peter GABRIEL. The rhythm led by the songs turns out to be frenetic with some changes that seem to be impossible to coordinate with more than two instruments.

"As the World" is the last ECHOLYN studio album, afterwards the members decided to form other bands like DARK AETHER PROJECT and FINNEUS GAUGE. By 2000, WESTON, BUZBY and KULL got back together to play at the NEARfest Festival even though in the beginning they didn't want to perform as ECHOLYN, the strength and the nostalgia made them readopt the name and go for it once again. 100% recommendable.