RISE

Resistor, band that we just added to Crossover is truly faithful to its genre name. Crossing borders, something Heavy (noted influence would be Rush), sometimes more acoustic like, even folk elements are there. Folk element (and both Irish music / Jethro feeling is boosted by violin / flute - just couldn't resist this presumption that everything with flute sounds a bit like good old Tull).

First "side" (it's not my idea, there is even song Changing Sides in the middle, between sections) consists of 5 quite long songs. Because whole album lasts 78 minutes, each side taking half of it, there is a lot of space to prove if it's worth listeners time. From my point of view, I can say that it is, this album provides a lot of styles, genres, influences and elements that makes music interesting. There are melodic parts, there are "Rock" parts, parts that are little bit dull (not much of them), then maybe it's just my imagination, but I would see there Jamming parts too (rare, maybe it's just haluci-sound-nation. My favourite ones would probably be Masquerade (see / hear [whatever your main used senses when listening music is] how Steve handles high pitched vocals in ending notes) and then lovely Mimosa

But the main point this album is so unique is its "side" (you know, tradition) long epic about land where disco music reigned (and was killed by pretty good jamming in Prog style). Funny, crazy, full of puns and in general interesting lyrics and also music (that's difficult sometimes, some bands gets too focused on either words or music that the other one is not so well conceived - not here though).

The Land of No Groove is quite pitoresque place, almost like Wonderland (think Alice). There also helps repeated listenings, as this is story and it's not as easy to follow as to read a book.

To be honest (and to tell more or less two private thoughts), at first, I didn't understand it at all, but not only at first (rather like still during let's say 15th listen of this album) I laughed through most of these parts (10 chapters of the story in total). Battle with sea dragon-like monster using music, incorporating themselves (band members) into story (they sail the sea), battle between Rock and Disco, amusing a lot, even though I have to tell that it sounds too forced in one or two occasions. Nothing major. "They said sail anyway".

4(+), I do think so that after so many listens, my admiration of "Rise" did rise higher. There is also strong feeling of honest musicians trying to make some fun and while they're at it, they produced extremely good album, which also stands its rating from Prog point of view (which as you know we should more or less calculate too).

Thank you Steve and I hope you are satisfied. Not with this review, it's my opinion, but rather with so quick band addition. I'm glad too.