TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN

US band ODIN'S COURT has been an ongoing feature on the progressive rock scene in the States for almost 15 years, with seven albums to their name as of 2015. "Turtles All the Way Down" is the seventh of those, and was, I think, self-released by the band in early 2015. The uncertainty about the releasing agent being that the logo of the US label Progrock Records is on display on the back cover, while the album as such isn't mentioned at that label's website.

"Turtles All the Way Down" comes across as an accomplished creation on most levels, with good songs, a good quality mix and production and seasoned contributors on all levels throughout. The stylistic variation and the high number of compositions focusing on accessible atmospheres, melodies and harmonies may be aspects more challenging to grasp though, at least for a strict progressive metal oriented audience, and much the same is the case for the melodic, high-pitched lead vocals. A possible key audience for this CD, as I regard it, would be those equally fond of bands such as Fish-era Marillion and Dream Theater circa 1995-'97, and then especially those among them with a general fondness for artists that tend to ignore stylistic boundaries.

I came across American prog band Odin's Court some years ago, reviewing both their third and fourth albums. Fast forward to 2015 and I was contacted by multi-instrumentalist Matt Brookins who asked if I would like to review their new album, which was their seventh. I explained that I was currently working on a book and that it would take some time for it to be reviewed as I was going to finish that before I started reviewing again. He said that he was absolutely fine with it, but neither of us expected it to take three years! The rest of the band are Rick Pierpont (guitar and backing vocals and Dimetrius LaFavors (vocals), while Matt provides guitars, keyboards, vocals, bass, drums, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, mountain dulcimer (plus there are a few guests).

This is the first of their albums that I have heard with LaFavors on vocals (although he was on the two albums previous to this, which I haven't come across), and he is a stellar singer. At times he reminds me of Brad Delp, and has plenty of power to back it up. Behind him there is a band that moves easily between melodic hard rock, prog rock and prog metal, with some wonderful guitars and riffs. This is a concept album dealing with ideas and questions relating to the universe, and the album is divided into three sections. The first twelve songs are in many ways leading us up to the final "Box of Dice (Does God Play?) which is an epic of more than seventeen minutes long.

This is complex music, that often has relatively simplistic lead guitar, and the combination of these two musical elements with those soaring vocals makes compelling listening. There are times when the drums aren't all that they could be, and others where they are far more powerful, and I think a full-time human driving the band through would have had a definite positive impact. I can see fans of Dream Theater getting a great deal from this, and I love the complex staccato riffs that are used to great dynamic effect. If you haven't' come across them before this, then you really should.