CHAPTER 21

Rizengard from Mexixo is one of the best young prog rock bands I've heared lately, really, this band kick ass big time. I was really impressed by their debute album released in 2012 named Chapter 21. The musicianship is absolutely top notch, hardly I've hered nowa days a band to play with an amazing ease like Rizengard playes here. The album is pretty long with 14 pieces and total length little above over 70 min, that means more then hour of music, but what an hour. rizengard music is very demanding, combining elements in their most edgy parts from Dream Theater, the keyboards are running all the time that remind me of ELP, some neo/symphonic flavours are to be found here + lots of jazz fusion passages a la Planet X ,Tribal Tech or Allan Holdsworth ingeniosity on guitar parts, the result is fantastic and very original to my ears. The overall musical arrangements goes from aztec percussions to Scotland bagpipes ad many more intresting going one. The voice is quite ok even is not the strongest point of the album, but Alberto Galarza manage to offer some really ok moments here, his voice is perfect for such music. There are also lots of invited guests who done a really good job. I can't extract a piece to be the best , because all are excellent, this is not every day type of album, it has lot to offer, both in musical passages as on vocal department. Specially I was absolutely knocked out of my socks when I've heared the keyboard parts, Christian Rizzo G is top notch keyboard player, what he offers here is really impressive, from fast breaks and turn to slow or mid tempo parts, Rizzo is awesome at best. All in all this album goes recommended for sure, is one of the most pleasent surprises I've come lately, really solid inventive and with outstanding musicianship. 4 stars rounded to 4.5, Mexico is again on the map of prog.