Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Talanas - Reason & Abstract CD (album) cover

REASON & ABSTRACT

Talanas

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
Rune2000
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Talanas is a London-based progressive metal band with a clear preference for the heavy and technical side of the genre. The release of their first EP, titled Reason & Abstract, was met with a lot of praise by fans of the underground metal scene in U.K. which is why the band quickly went back into the studio and are currently close to completing their first full length studio album.

Everything I described so far definitely seems like hunky dory - so why the average rating, you might ask? To be completely honest, I just couldn't listen to this twenty minute EP without thinking of another band that is quite dear to me. I'm referring to the darlings of Tech/Extreme Prog Metal who currently have two of the genre's highest rated albums... my countrymen... the one and only...OPETH!

Tracks like Diaphora and especially the highly competent Aorta are easily among 2010's most interesting compositions and I'm sure that even Opeth fans wouldn't mind to see such a great copy of Mikael Åkerfeldt and the band coming from United Kingdom. Come to think of it, Åkerfeldt has never really sounded like a typical Swedish metal artist and has instead given me more of a British vibe. Not to mention the constant fascination with England displayed first with the Roundhouse gig that was later released as the band's first official live album - The Roundhouse Tapes. Do I have to even mention In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall? But now I digress...

The only really weak spot on this EP is the 6 minute Pray Speed The Fever which sounds a bit too generic for my tastes. It's as if Talanas has decided to cover all the spectrums of the Extreme Metal genre and added a more traditional track that basically follows the heavy/acoustic/heavy/acoustic/heavy-formula. Even though I might be a bit underwhelmed by this first offering from Talanas, it would still be interesting to see how they will expand their sound on their full length release. Hopefully they will concentrate on the experimental style that they displayed on Aorta without trying to satisfy the more traditional Extreme Metal sound which is already overcrowded by a vast amount of bands.

**** star songs: Diaphora (4:57) Aorta (8:23)

*** star songs: Pray Speed The Fever (6:00)

Report this review (#412855)
Posted Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | Review Permalink

TALANAS Reason & Abstract ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of TALANAS Reason & Abstract


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.