+4626 - COMFORTZONE

Confortzone is the eighth and last (to this date) studio album by the very interesting and unique Swedish #eclecticprog band #beardfish and arguably their most accesible of their catalog? Maybe, but if so then it has to be attributed to the desegregated beautiful melodic moments that seem to come and go throughout the whole album, because besides that it has all the ingredientes to be just that, an amazing Eclectic #progressiverock band.

The One Inside - Part 1: Noise in the Background opens with the lyrical narrative of the concept before the first melodic hook appears in the form of keyboards and strings (or more keyboards sounding like strings, with Rikard Sjöblom you never know!)?precious

Hold On kicks in with funky heavy bass lines and very catchy finger riffing that gently evolves into the mellow and modern symphonic structure. There are some references to Jethro Tull at points, and some of the other usual suspects, very smartly integrated into their unique proposal, playful and memorable music.

The title track Comfort Zone invades with the 2nd important hook of the album but this time through opaque and drowned guitar licks slowly covered by more keyboard layers, impressive rhythmic section and even some classic piano, all the ingredients present. Pop-like eclectic prog at its best. Death walks behind you?

Can You See Me Now is a cool song, with hints of #theflowerkings at times, maybe even more theatrical and uplifting but I can definitely feel some connection here.

King presents a different musical approach, more metallic and melodic, even angry at points but softened with the guitar harmonies and some falsettos here and there; Come where I've been chosen king, I will teach your tongue to sting! Voila!

The One Inside - Part 2: My Companion throughout Life serves its purpose of interluding the two metallic (and somehow off concept tracks) with a hooky acoustic reminder of the title track. Cool song

Daughter/Whore is maybe the song that got me less interested since the first listen, and is not actually until writing this review that I can say is not a band song, not a great one either, but would definitely feel much better within a different group of tracks, it has some high quality moments like the wonderful guitar harmonizing, but it just doesn't do it for me, It took me out the #comfortzone

If We Must Be Apart (A Love Story Continued) always brings my attention back to the album, I really like the symphonic first seconds, and how the fat bass kicks in, and the enchanting keyboards, from the narrated story with the acoustic guitars as primary atmosphere, to the angry and tempting #progressivemetal discharge, I cherish this song as one of the highlights from the album.

Ode to The Rock n' Roller shows the satiric and humorist side of the band, a pop-like complaint about everything surrounding the music industry, at least that's my interpretation.

And then The One Inside - Part 3: Relief. The closer for the album and its concept, with an immediate late grunge/Alternative rock frame but maintaining the epic ending to wrap up the trip. A highly recommended album.