HEAVY MEDDLE

After reading a review about "Heavy Meddle" in a local heavymetal magazine, I was very curious. I first listened to some tunes on the website of MAGIC ELF, and although it were just some very short samples, I was totally blown away. Being a fan of the LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT (LTE), I just had to buy this album. Compared to LTE, Magic Elf has a more jazz/fusion orientated sound, and a much cleaner production. Being a drummer myself, I was really impressed by Dave Miranda's very technical drumwork. Carl Roa's guitarplaying is very melodic with an exceptional character. Roy Altemus can be discripted as the silent force, but he's not afraid to take the lead in the more mellow parts. They're all very skilled musicians who sure knows how to make some very impressive music.

The next songs are the highlights of this record.

The record starts with Calamity Castle... full guns blazing! It's full of odd time signatures, changes of tempo, great breaks. Godspeed is a very heavy song, yet very melodic. Better Days Ahead is a mellow song, but the very aggresive drums makes this song something special. Scrambledreggs is definitely influenced by the DIXIE DREGGS, being a crazy uptempo mix of folk and country. N.S.D. is an old school heavy metel influenced song, but very melodic.

To all who both like heavy progmusic (DREAM THEATER, LTE) and jazzy prog (KING CRIMSON)... give this band, and this record especially, a try, and you'll might be blown away as well.