LEAVING LOTUS

Third time is the charm they say. And although I'm not familiar with the first two releases from this German trio, I was certainly charmed by their third release.

Although not a constant feature, the heavy use of dark and grim sounding guitars is what I will remember best of this album. That particular sound is so strong and special that it has made a lasting impression. Combining that guitar sound with mellow passages, sometimes fragile and sometimes epic guitar synths added, some jazz-tinged atmospheres and excellent percussion, drums and bass work makes for an interesting and fascinating journey in a musical landscape described by the band as jazz metal.

And this CD will probably appeal to most that think instrumental jazz metal sounds like music it's worth checking out.

This is the third try for this so talented German band and it sems that this album is the most mature to date!I don'y know their previous releases,but LEAVING LOTUS proves a solid maturity of the compositions and some very,very catchy songs!Stylistically,we can consider the COUNTER WORLD EXPERIENCE music to be a prog fusion metal,including many jazz elements with futuristic ideas and a matallic vibe everywhere !Not in the sense that we have serious and massive guitar riffs-and we have plenty of them-but the music has a cold atmosphere,something like an unbreakable war machine in action!The sound is sensational and each musician does an excellent job!The songs are direct,sometimes showing extremelly technical sparks ,never in excess,but definitelly the final product remains very technique!Keyboards and guitar syhnthsizers are present everywhere and the drum sound is astonishing,bringing a sound in the jazz metal direction!It's not so mindblowing like PLANET X or 7 for 4,but it's something very well done and the compositions are song orientated! Sometimes we feel some KING CRIMSON influences,but more modern in displaying! AMYGDALA ,the opening track is perfect for a first song and the rest of the album continues the direction and offers an excellent audition of a very well composed album especially!The playing is majestic too!Benjamin Schvenen is a very talented guitar player,in permanent search for new ways of expression and the keys are also in his attribution ,so CWE music is very metal orientated absolutelly!Catchy jazz elements are very enjoyable and the technical chops and breaks are always well done!THORSTEN HARNITZ and H.D LORENZ are performant musicians and the trio seems to be very compact,like a monolith!I feel great potential in this band and I am sure the coming albums will be more and more interesting and diverse,stylistically speaking! Definitelly 4 well deserved STARS for a very promissing and adventurous band!