MYTHOS

This Spanish five piece band made a fine impression with their third album entitled "Mutatis mutandis". On this new album Mythos is obvious less influenced by IQ than on that third album. In general they made modern and pleasant sounding, often dynamic neo-prog featuring strong and fiery electric guitarplay, tasteful keyboards and a tight rhythm- section (sometimes a bit too). The English vocals are the weak point, not bad but mediocre without the usual Spanish expression. The highlight is the long final track "Sisyphus" that starts and ends with wonderful Spanish guitar and contains lots of good interplay between guitar and keyboards and some fine soli. A fine album but I advice In Nomine to sing in Spanish.

As much as I was impressed with Mutatis Mutandis, now, with Mythos, I am disappointed. I gave Mutatis 5 stars, I really was stunned (I still am) with that album. But Mythos? It is a total different sound, to me it's does not sound like the same band. Allow me to say - it's very personal of course - I think of Mythos as a waist of my money. So... back to Mutatis, with a lot of pleasure, I still recommend (and re-recommend) Mutatis to all those who are in favour of great symphonic Neo Prog Rock.

"Mythos" is the 2005 cd from the Spanish band In Nomine. I was drawn to this cd by claims that it sounded similar to Echolyn (one of my favorite bands), and some of the sound samples here sure supported that position. The band is tight and hugs the curve of rapid time changes; the keyboards have that modern feel; and the guitarist intones a classic Brett Kull sound throughout most this cd. If only this were an all-instrumental cd...

Mind you, the vocals are not bad. But they represent a weaker link for this band, at least on this cd. Shallow and awkward lyrics do not help. Perhaps they would have been better served if they had sung in Spanish? There is also some clumsy (to me) talking at certain points in a couple of songs.

That's a shame, because there is so much cool music here that is very well played, and the guitarist is truly a treat. I guess I would have preferred less of the vocal stumbles and interruptions, and more (MUCH more, considering the short 44 minute length of this cd!) of the progressive jazz sound that they toy with. I guess there's always Echolyn to fall back on...