LATENT AVIDITY

A nice return to form for these heavy proggers from Leszno (Poland). Like French band Children in Paradise (Dam Kat), they display a great command of how simple heavy prog can be. Plus they come up with great melodies.

1. "Intro" (0:49) atmospherics with clock ticking. (4.5/5)

2. "Still There" (6:07) great opening chord--sound and sequence. Vocals in verse and chorus are quite engaging. Nice guitar solo in the second and third minutes. Great background vocals and SAGA-like finale. (9.25/10)

3. "Loneliness" (5:13) another great opening with female lead vocal stepping in from the start. Jakub Roszak provides some awesome background and harmony vocals. Great FLOCK OF SEAGULLS guitar to support the bridge between the first two verses (which becomes the foundation for the chorus later). Great song design and construction. (8.75/10)

4. "The Seed Has Been Sown" (7:32) a song that takes some surprising twists and turns--turning more spacious just when you expect the power chords, vocals going artsy when you expect metal screams. The song final pulses with the expected heaviness during the "C" instrumental part in support of the guitar solo but then turns very quiet with pregnant latency for a brief delicate vocal before another soaring, emotional guitar solo takes us to the end. (13.5/15)

5. "Stop for a While" (5:53) opens with gravelly voice of Jakub Roszak singing plaintively with only the support of a piano. Spacious electric guitar notes take over for the second verse before the full band kicks in with something cool. Great drumming here! Synth washes and background vocals support the next verse as Jakub sings in a higher octave. I really love this more-spacious version of Retrospective! Final verses are sung with equal vocal weight given to Jakub and Beata. It's a love song! Nice! Great finish with synths, steady bass and drums and sensitive guitar solo followed by Jakub and Beata repeating their shared story once more. Beautiful! (9.25/10)

6. "In the Middle of the Forest" (6:50) solid SYLVAN/LIZARD-esque song. (13/15)

7. "Programmed Fear" (5:24) opens with a little VOTUM-like sound (guitar arpeggi) but the near-militaristic drumming is a bit off-putting. Again, excellent vocal work on all layers. (8.5/10)

8. "What Will Be Next?" (10:41) A good, solid, engaging heavy prog epic. Great vocal harmonies in the final couple minutes. Great finish! (17.5/20)

4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock on the heavy side. I swear: I'd rather listen to Retrospective than Riverside.