OVERLOOK

FROMUZ are from Uzbekistan of all places. A country that used to be part of Russia once upon a time.The band name means "From Uz (Uzbekistan).This is their first studio album and it's all instrumental. Five songs over 69 minutes gives this four member band lots of time to stretch it out.There is a guest who offers up some narration on one track and violin on another. I am really impressed with this album, they keep it interesting enough with the tempo and mood shifts, and i'm a fan of heavy music and they offer up plenty of that.The packaging with the pictures in the liner notes are all very well done.

"Stone Salad" is laid back to open but that changes quickly as it turns heavy. This is good. Synths to the fore 3 1/2 minutes in. A change follows and the guitar is ripping it up before 5 minutes.They do slow things down but it's still powerful. A change 8 1/2 minutes in as intricate sounds come and go. It kicks back in after 12 1/2 minutes. Nice. "Other Side Of The Water" opens with atmosphere then the guitar cuts in before 3 minutes and soars as the drums pound. It then settles right back to the previous soundscape. A change after 4 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up with the guitar leading. It settles then turns heavy after 6 minutes.Synths roll in.This is great ! It settles before 10 minutes. Synths join in after 11 1/2 minutes. Nice. It picks back up 13 minutes then turns heavy. Piano only ends it.

"Crashmind" has a good heavy intro and it stays this way until it settles 2 1/2 minutes in with guitar outfront. It's heavy again and we get some loud percussion sounds. Heavy guitar follows. A calm 6 1/2 minutes in with guitar, synths and bass. It's heavy again a minute later. It settles before 9 1/2 minutes. A beautiful section follows. Piano only ends it. "13th August" opens with intricate but angular guitar as the heaviness comes and goes. A change before 2 1/2 minutes as we get some vocal expressions. I like this. It kicks back in around 4 1/2 minutes when the vocals stop. It's heavier 7 minutes in. A calm follows with what sounds like trumpet and a party in the background. Piano too. It kicks back in at 8 1/2 minutes and heavily. Killer section. "Return To W.I.T." opens with guest violin and it becomes Classical sounding.That changes before 2 1/2 minutes when the drums and a powerful sound take over. It does settles back some then kick back in after 5 1/2 minutes. Nice. It picks up a minute later as the gutiar plays over top. Riffs 9 1/2 minutes in and a heavy soundscape. Kicking ass ! It turns spacey 13 1/2 minutes in with vocal melodies.Thunder and rain 15 minutes in as it becomes pastoral to the end.

A solid 4 stars.