DWELLERS OF THE DEEP

So-called "symphonic prog", or to those not in the know, "the style of prog big in 1973 with loads of organs and theatricality", is a style that seems impossible to pull off in a modern context. Loads try it, mostly old men trying to reclaim their youth and sound like their idols, and most miss the mark. Superficially, there's not much different - the songs are virtually dead ripoffs of Yes or Genesis or Camel, and yet haven't even got a tenth of the quality or soul of those artists.

But perhaps the best way to work that out is to look at the exception. Because this is absolutely awesome. It's a modern symphonic prog album in the vein of the classics, like all those other artists, but it doesn't suck. Why? How is this possible? I think for me, it's because there's some balls to this music. There's some grit, anger, punchiness, and most noticeably - youth. Wobbler are no spring chickens, but they do a decent impression of one, with hard- hitting riffs, energetic performances, and the constant inclusion of top-shelf melodic parts, remembering that prog is often at its best when being pop in disguise.

This is no masterpiece, but it's such a stark contrast to all the other symphonic prog bands who all sound like they're in a retirement home lunchtime entertainment band. Yes and Genesis were young at their peak, and had a youthful energy that Wobbler have at least attempted to emulate here. It's the closest you'll ever come to that magic again.

7.5 (8th listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook blog: www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

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