SOMBRAS DE INVIERNO

Sometimes, I think that neo progressive style is a sort of easy listening prog music, with many cliches, plastic sounds and even some commercial feeling. But this point of view doesn't mean that ALL neo prog bands do uninteresting or uneven music.

BTW, "Sombras de Invierno" is an enjoyable neo prog album. Influenced by bands like IQ, ARENA or MARILLION (and even DREAM THEATER in the heavy song "Mantis"), SUBTERRA made a high level effort, combining good melancholic melodies and professional interpretations. I like, specially, the very dramatic vocalist style (he sings in Spanish).

The highlights are the instrumental opening track "Presagio", the nice and soft ballad "Cada Mil Años" and the two longest pieces "Sobre los Rieles" and "Cetrementti", while the rest is good and homogeneous. A recommended neo prog album from Chile.

Well if you don`t mind spanish singing and you miss Mark kelly`s keys in the old Marillion, Subterra will be perfect for you.This album along with Grains of Sand of Clepsydra are for me the two best neo prog rock cd`s that you could find if you exclude the big names like Arena,Pendragon and Iq.They are just perfect with no weak moments at all,bombastic most of the time on the album they just find the right time to give you a guitar solo like in Primavera de Praga and many keyboards passages.Sobre los rieles is by far the strongest song of Sombras de Invierno.Until the next one you could check Chaneton another good band from South America.

Of course the name "SUBTERRA" immediately rings a bell for most neo-progressive rock lovers. Indeed, IQ's studio album from 1997 was called "Subterranea". So it is quite easy to "guess" by which bands SUBTERRA was mainly influenced. IQ, the "old" Marillion and probably even a bit by GENESIS (Peter Gabriel era).

"Sombras De Invierno" is a good debut album. Maybe not to everyone's liking, but if you like IQ, Marillion and the "old" Genesis and you don't mind listening to Spanish vocals you should definitely check them out! Music styles on this album vary from emotional ballads to more up-tempo tracks with nice howling guitars and abundant keyboards.

3.5 stars

Another inclusion in the growing Neo/Symphonic Prog scene from South America, Subterra from Santiago, Chile, were formed in 1996, influenced by the music of MARILLION and FISH.After two years and many line-up changes a solid core was established around singer Maximiliano Sanchez, guitarists Leonardo Basso and Gonzalo Sanchez, keyboardist Claudio Momberg, bassist Andres Saavedra and drummer Paul Perich.Starting from gigs in local pubs and clubs, Subterra soon played live next to acts such as Pendragon, Arena, IQ and Jadis, followed by another memorable gig at the Baja Prog festival in 2001.It was the year the band officially made their debut with the album ''Sombras de Invierno''.

Subterra belong to the heavier side of Neo Prog with a sound close to ARENA or later PENDRAGON, colored by a huge symphonic sound coming out of Claudio Momberg's keyboards.The compositions are based on impressive and angular guitar riffs, very sharp synthesizers and well-performed vocal lines (lyrics come in Spanish), with all these elements producing an excellent dramatic atmosphere.But, as with any good Neo Prog act, Leonardo Basso and Gonzalo Sanchez offer also plenty of melodic guitar solos, while there is enough space for virtuosic individual performances and instrumental textures.The longer pieces seem to be the more interesting ones with great changes between downtempo themes with hypnotic guitars and soft piano lines and bombastic symphonic movements with grandiose keyboards and heavy sounding guitars.There is even some discreet organ parts to be found in a couple of tracks, nicely adapted to the general style.Very good balance between melodic moments and groovy passages maintain the superb atmosphere captured by the band throughout the whole release.

An excellent suprise indeed.Bombastic, melodic, demanding and atmospheric Neo/Symphonic Prog all the way by a young band ready to give some lessons how this style should be played.Highly recommended.