Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Altered State - Dos CD (album) cover

DOS

Altered State

 

Heavy Prog

4.29 | 20 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Rivertree
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
4 stars I'm sure this album was never intended to deliver prog music as such, however has enough substance to be assigned to this genre in my opinion. Provided with excellent musicianship the band is something like an insider's tip I would say. Which means here we have a bunch of tricky heavy rocking songs - really enjoyable, although this is not dedicated to prog purists, the only thing you must know. Stylistically oriented at hard and heavy rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Rush they are throwing a proper experimental attitude in here and now.

Just take the high speed racing Where Is Harrison Ford? which bears a significant fusion touch and therefore proves the band's variety at best. Puzzling - I can't file I Wish It Would Rain - the main chorus sounds so remarkable to me, it's just like a deja vu - as if this has been produced in the 1970s, buried in my memory for a long time and finally digged out not long ago. Not the band's most representive song, because very catchy, probably peering hard at a place in the charts, never mind - enjoyable nevertheless.

Although the German song title means 'fear', Angst is a charming ballad on the contrary. If you still may have the impression that this comes as a simple rock album - Made of Gasoline will teach you better at the latest. And anyway - this is rather unusual - I have the impression the album qualitatively grows the more it comes to the end. This points to the closing monster track Thinkin' About Movin' to a Catatonic State - partially heavy - tending to prog metal - partially mellow. It all closes for the first time at 11:30 with some spacey/ambient soundscapes, you have the chance to relax then with complete weightlessness until they decide to attach some more time provided with a bubbling blistering atmosphere.

An extraordinary composition really, rich on variety, surprises ... and experimental approach if you take the last minutes. Following this I also have to mention The Waking Dream - a bluesy ballad basically ... but wooooow ... spiked with some striking extras, speaking of the irresistible dynamic, other-wordly vocals, psychedelic guitars - a fantastic solo included - aso aso. And so my final conclusion goes like this: 'Dös' is an entertaining album and - intended or not - has forwarded them into the prog olymp with ease.

Rivertree | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this ALTERED STATE review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.