LOST IN PERCEPTION

RETROSPECTIVE are a six piece band out of Poland who released their first recording back in 2007. I have that Ep along with their full length debut called "Stolen Thoughts" from 2008. This is their second studio album released in 2012. My feelings have been that this recording is more mature which doesn't mean better, but a very uniform sounding album with nine tracks worth under 51 minutes.

I like that this lineup has pretty much stayed in tact over the many years of this band's existence. They have released three studio albums after this one with the most recent coming in 2022. The one change was one of their two guitarists leaving, meaning that on the fifth album they are a five piece, but they replaced that guitarist on their most recent bringing them back up to a six piece. The singer has an Eddie Vedder styled voice, but with each album that becomes less obvious. This record features plenty of atmosphere and heaviness, although they have toned down the heaviness on here.

I do like the way the album starts off with "The End Of The Winter Lethargy" and how the intensity seems to be held in check, never breaking out. The synths create some nice atmosphere after 3 minutes. "Huge Black Hole" has a darkness to it, and again the synths are well used here. The vocals turn passionate on and off on this one. I'm not a big fan of "Egoist" but "Lunch" is one I like despite being fairly light and melodic. I like how the keys echo to open this track. "Our Story Is Beginning Now" is another good one. Plenty of piano and atmosphere.

My favourite though is that sixth song "Tomorrow Will Never Change". Melancholy here, especially the guitar early on. Love that bass coming out of the calm around 4 minutes in. And the wordless vocals late. "Musical Land" is uptempo and intricate reminding me of KC's "Discipline" slightly. Then we have that longest track, the 10 1/2 minute closer called "Swallow The Green Tone" which starts out sounding like FLOYD ala "Wish You Were Here". A great way to end the album.

I haven't heard any of the three studio albums that followed this one, but I have to say this is a band that has impressed me. I do like my Heavy Prog and the references here to their fellow Poles RIVERSIDE. At least instrumentally.

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