TORMIDESOOJAD

Pantokraator currently is one of only 14 bands from Estonia in our database, and the only neo-prog entry. Being the first Estonian disc in my collection I was quite eager to hear music from this country. Panto is a band whose origins date to the early 1980s. While there have been many personnel changes and a long period of hiatus the band have emerged with a strong new album, as well as a book/career retrospective explaining their long history. This band has recorded over 100 songs and played numerous shows and festivals.

You might expect a relatively small, self-released effort to be of low production quality but you'd be wrong. Like Senza Nome of Italy this is a completely high quality release with great sound, packaging, and art, absolutely as professional as any new release you'd expect from a high visibility act. The 10 tracks are in the 4-6 minute range and could be described as upbeat neo-progressive with some local folk flavors and somehow a global spirit as well. Being an Italian prog aficionado I find myself instantly at ease with the Estonian language singing---I don't know truly how similar they are but I can tell you that they don't feel so different from Italian vocals. There is a certain flair and expressiveness that both share. Vocal duties are a mixture of male and female voice (mostly male) and they are very good. Keyboards are bubbly and have that modern neo-prog exuberance that admittedly is not my cup of tea personally (I'll take piano and atmosphere, thanks) but along with the guitars and percussion they are extremely well played. My favorites are not the most rocking compositions but rather the softer and dreamy ones like "Pilvedesse souan paadi." "Paike mu Paike" has a brisk techno-pop edge sounding almost like it was written for them by a reunited Abba. I think I most enjoy "Tule tule" which features sunny acoustic guitar backing a male/female duet and a quaint keyboard run---a simple and very positive vibe. "Kasmu" is the one that feels world music influenced to me with an interesting rolling percussion and a backing female vocal in the style of Mike Oldfield would utilize. The only criticism I really have is that things can seem a bit too safe, packaged, too professional if you will. I would like to hear some longer instrumental sections and perhaps a bit more grit---then again, I realize I'm in the wrong genre for grit so that's my problem! But there are some tracks where I would have appreciated them taking the time to go off on a wilder tangent just as the song was ending. They give us a taste of this is the exciting title track "Tormidesoojad" but I could use more of it.

This album should please all fans of modern, melodic progressive rock. This is probably 4 stars easily for such fans, my rating of 3 is only due to my tastes being different from this kind of music. A lovely lyric book provides lyrics, photos, and English translations. Release is a tri-fold digipak.

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