LOST IN PERCEPTION

This is a band that I had VERY high expectations for after falling under their spell with their first and second albums, 2007's EP, Spectrum of the Green Morning, and 2008's Stolen Thoughts, but this output is sorely disappointing. The music lacks any interesting development or emotional impact. There is plenty of solid heavy prog, each song seems to constantly threaten to explode, but they rarely do. Each vocal from veteran Jakub Roszak is often set up as the highlight of each song--and yet it is not: the vocals never sock you or rock you; instead they are full of unrealized potential energy and Roszak's EDDIE VEDDER/MARCO GLÜHMANN- imitative presence--yet nothing here approaches the power and spine-tingling, haunting vocals of either of Spectrum of the Green Morning's classics, "Enemy World Vision" or "Regret and Frightened Child"--both of which rival anything fellow countrymen and Heavy Prog brothers RIVERSIDE have ever done. (IMHO.) With repeated listens I have discovered many subtleties that might be considered indicative of 'progress,' 'development' or 'maturation' of the band, yet after four years I can't help but have hoped for more. More surprises, more twists, more shifts, more. Perhaps it's in the lyrics (to which, as always, I am oblivious).

Album high points: 2. "Huge Black Hole" (3:59) (8/10); 6. "Tomorrow Will Change" (6:19) (8/10), and; 9. "Swallow the Green Tones" (10:34) (8/10).

3.5 stars, rated down for being non-essential.