ZUMANTHUM

Overhead

Crossover Prog

3.70 | 76 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

This is another very confidential Nordic band who released quite a good effort at the turn of the century.

The first couple of minutes of their epic opener are absolutely gorgeous, but as Bob also mentions, the weak part are the vocals. But it is not the first time than some Scandinavian bands fail to provide great vocalists.

Still, this ''Beginning To End'' is a solid prog epic, with some truly rocking passages which provides a lot of dynamics. This song will satisfy almost any old freak as I am: great guitar, brilliant keys and a strong rhythmic section. With a definite appeal to melody. What else do we need?

This song is highly instrumental (thanks a bunch for this) and conveys a great feel throughout its length (over 20 minutes). It is of course THE highlight of this album, the other songs having problems to fight with such a great opponent. A huge number indeed.

It would be unfair though to limit this album to the only epic. The almost instrumental (again) ''Asleep'' gets its full credits as well. Even if the sound is weirder and heavier, it has its own merit. There are some complex interplay and the whole is not easily accessible; but once you got it, you got it.

Most of the songs from this album are on the long side and ''Confession'' sounds very much as a neo-prog song to say the least. The barrier between cross-over and neo being very adaptable for ''Overhead''. Even vocals are quite alright here! Not talking about the backing band of course. Just sumptuous.

The shortest track is also the most Floydean of the whole. Spacey keyboards, melodic guitar and a great feel indeed. A fine hors d'oeuvre to introduce the long and closing number: ''Zumanthum''.

The problem being that this song is the weakest of this album; very much neo-prog oriented (which is not the problem). Vocals are again disgraceful and the inspiration is quite absent. Only the "finale" is worth.

This album is a very good debut one. Four stars (upgraded from seven out of ten due to the closing number).

ZowieZiggy | 4/5 | 2009-6-12

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