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Bolus - Delayed Reaction CD (album) cover

DELAYED REACTION

Bolus

 

Neo-Prog

3.53 | 23 ratings

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Conor Fynes
Prog Reviewer
3 stars 'Delayed Reaction' - Bolus (6/10)

As one would hope, 'prog' rock has developed to keep up with the ever-changing scope of modern music. Bolus is one such act that attempts to live up to that original tenant of prog rock, being to take the sounds of so-called popular music and push the envelope of their artistic credibility. 'Delayed Reaction' is a fair demonstration of what this Canadian duo is all about; talented and professional, Bolus makes some good, melodic music here, without necessarily convincing me that it will do something that hasn't already been seen.

Calling this band neo-prog is a fair assessment. In general, there is an attention to vocal melodies here that alot of orthodox prog does not, especially when it comes to the harmonies that this duo makes. Bolus often sound like they are fusing melodic prog with alternative rock, and this is a fusion of styles that has been quite promising to me in the past. A comparison could be drawn here to Marillion, as the music is typically favouring beautiful melancholy over technical display. Mid-era Rush also plays a factor here. The band is most definitely influenced by the classic bands, as is most evident in the sounds and textures they choose to use. The keyboards are derived from Genesis it sounds, and Alex Lifeson's guitar tones seem to be emulated throughout 'Delayed Reaction'. Of course, if you're a prog fan, these 'derivative' elements are not necessarily a bad thing. All the same, it feels like despite Bolus' evident strength in terms of production, performance, and melody-writing, they are content to stay within the shadow of those that came before.

The production is something that particularly impressed me, especially the way these vocal harmonies come out in the mix. The vocals of Nick Karch are quite good, although there are times when he seems to take a little too nasal of a tone with his voice. The vocal harmonies are where this band's strength lies, at least as far as their performance goes. Although they are kept relatively simple, the arrangements add alot to the melodies of this band, which are already quite good on their own. Besides a few melodies however, 'Delayed Reaction' is not a particularly memorable album. It is enjoyable, long, and- in some instances- ambitious, but perhaps a little too dry to leave a lasting impression on me.

Conor Fynes | 3/5 |

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