WHO'S THE BOSS IN THE FACTORY?

Items ordered by ending time | Showing all 1 items

Visit eBay search:'prog rock' for items
Sell your KARMAKANIC items on eBay !

Best selling order

Visit Amazon tag:'Progressive Rock' for more prog rock

The boss is in the house (or in da house, if you prefer)

If there's one thing you gotta love about the ''retro'' bands on the current scene is that they know how to make consistently good albums. It's also cool to see who works on what cd and what project because at this point the line-up for these albums are starting to look like the family tree in a Louisiana swamp, small and interconnected. Jonas Reingold has appeared as the bass player for several bands such as Kaipa, Midnight Sun and Tomas Bodin, he's also produced a number of offerings for bands. He's best known for work on his own solo project, but also as a main-stay with The Flower Kings and The Tangent. This guy certainly is busy, but that hasnt stopped him from outputting this excellent opus. The line-up for the album makes one grin as it's pretty clear that Reingold has a lot of people who owe him favors. Along for the ride with Reingold are Zoltan Csorsz (The Flower Kings, The Tangent) on drums and jazz master Krister Jonsson (The Tangent, solo) on guitar. Guesting on the album are a few more familiar faces such as Andy Tillison (The Tangent, Parallel or 90 Degrees) on the organ and hammond, Tomas Bodin on keyboards and Theo Travis (The Tangent, No-Man, Travis and Fripp, Theo Travis Band). Quite frankly, a perfect line-up for this kind of album.

Karmakanic's third album, Who's The Boss In The Factory, is a lot of what you can expect from these guys based on their previous works. So fans of the avant fans can flee for cover and those who love ''retro'' old-school progressive rock should step right up for this album. With only 6 tracks it's pretty evident that this bass player was going for the grandiose feeling rather than the concise, and he seems to have pulled it off rather well. Here we get exactly what people want to hear from this kind of band, we have the 20-minute sprawling epic, the 13-minute powerhouse, a shorter rocker, a 10-minute mini epic and an emotional conclusion to the album.

A lot of people are likely already drawing parallels to The Flower Kings [TFK] just upon hearing the description of the album. Well, there are a lot of parallels, but these are two completely separate entities. While Jonas plays a more loose and jazzy bass on TFK's efforts he's switched to a harder-rocking sound for this album. While TFK is more of a light-hearted group with upbeat songs, Karmakanic is a little bit more cynical in the long run of things. Reingold says he made the album with the intent to make people feel good, something definitely archived by the opening epic, Send A Message From The Heart, which has all the upbeateties you could ever hope to find in a song. Soaring keyboard solos and a nicely uplifting voice from Göran Edman make for a very pleasant tune. The rest of the album, however, starts to get a little cynical. The excellent rocker, Let In Hollywood, is lead by a powerful bass and synth riff and makes for a good chorus when it rolls around. This makes for a nice break between the epics, as the lengthy title track is short to follow. This one is a lot slower and more evil sounding with it's chants and synths pressing in an almost industrial fashion. Two Blocks From The Edge is another more evil sounding song thanks to Theo Travis's wonderful sax work and the generally malevolent atmosphere provided by the keyboards and hammonds.

Of course the final two songs really deserve credit. Eternally (Part I and II) may feel slightly out of place as these are much more 'sad' songs than the rest, but that can be expected being that Reingold wrote these songs for his parents who tragically passed away late last year. The emotion can be felt right off the top of the first section as Part I is a short but delicate piano piece and Part II is filled with grand string sections and an emotional voice. The songs combine to make for a very moving piece, and Reingold really pulled it off well.

Great and somewhat dark symphonic prog from a great group of musicians. Fans of any of the bands mentioned above should definitely seek to acquire this record, you won't be disappointed. People who feel that TFK albums go on for too long or have too much ''filler'' should also seek solace in this record, since there's nothing on the album that could be considered as such. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that with this release the alumni of the various bands that the musicians come from have given their other bands a run for their money. 4 stars out of 5! A great effort.

The not yet very long discography of Karmakanic shows an impressive improvement with each next release. And if the score for this album so far is not deceiving, you can't go wrong with this one. At this moment it's 4,57 from 15 ratings, that's promising at least. And I already have the two predecessors so I know what this band is about and what they are capable of. I have every confidence of having bought a winner here.

And so it proved to be I can already reveal. First song starts somewhat strange with a sweet singing little kid leaving you puzzled what it's all about. No worries, it only lasts a few seconds and after that it's entering paradise with an absolute masterpiece track called Send a Message from the Heart, a true epic in the style of Flower Kings. (I could swear I hear Roine Stolt sing and play the guitar here and there on this album but the booklet says he is only playing the guitar on one of the songs (Two Blocks) so I'm partly right and partly wrong here.) And I also would have put money on the guess he did some of the songwriting for this album. Wrong too, it's all Jonas' work (except the lyrics By Inge Ohlen R.). Well, both Jonas and Roine are in TFK so it's not really strange to make such a mistake. But with TFK 90% of the songs are from Roine so that's why I'm still a bit surprised. Especially this first song is so much like TFK, there is also lots of the sound of their previous album detectable and this can only mean it's excellent. More than excellent because Send a message .. can compete with the very best epics by TFK. So this is obvious 5* material. Also a lot better than the best songs by this band so far and I was already enthusiastic with mainly the second album, so...

Next up is the shorter Let in Hollywood, a song to wipe the sweat from your forehead and stop shaking. Although, not quite true, this one is less uplifting but still a very good track, lasting appr. 5 minutes, some heavy music with this one, a bit like Rush but better (4,25*).

After this the next masterpiece, the title track, starting quietly with piano and some darkish singing by the excellent vocalist, Goran Edman. After some 2,5 minutes a very recognizable chorus sets in played in typical Karmakanic style. This proves that Karmakanic is not a TFK clone, if it seemed like that by my comment in the first epic, I take that back. There are resemblances indeed but Karmakanic has still it's own sound and it's more present in this track than in the first one. After this vocal part, it's instrumental time and boy, do these guys know how to play them ! Bass, piano and lead guitar, it's all mindblowing stuff combined in a terrific composition. After about the 5th listening I'm absolutely convinced, this album has to be a masterpiece in my book and this song is partly responable for that (4,75*).

And it's almost as if the band must have thought: for those (fools) who still have doubts about the masterpiece status, we'll throw in another superb track. This one is called Two Blocks from the Edge and is probably the very best from the 3 crackers of this album. Again I get the feeling Roine is doing the singing in the beginning but it's Goran actually, I think they only sound the same when Goran sings softly. After 1,5 minutes you can hear this clearly. On this song Theo Travis does the saxophone in an excellent contribution. His bandmate from The Tangent Andy Tilison is also present in this Perfect Party I would like to call this album. Two of the best progmusicians around, so in fact it's not a surprise at all that this has become a mindblowing effort of an album. Huge guitarplaying by Krister Jonsson has also got to be mentioned. The climax of this track is reminiscent of Monsters & Men by TFK, more or less my most favourite song ever. Not strange that I can only give this 5 (6,7,8,etc) stars. Incredible stuff.

I'm running out of superlatives here, can't help it. This album is so 100% my cup of tea, even more than TFK and I never thought that could be possible. Maybe it's the combination of three supergroups (Karmakanic, TFK and The Tangent (both in line-up as in songstyle by the way) that is the secret here. I simply can not believe what I'm hearing. I'd better stop before I start crying or something. This must be one of the very very very best albums in my collection and I was already so satisfied so far with that. What more can I say ? This album also saves this almost mediocre prog year for me. A superb masterpiece at last. Thank you, Karmakanic !

PS I forgot the last two tracks of the album in my emotional outburst. Two quiet, almost ballad like melancholic songs (first a short instrumental, the second with great vocals). 4,25 and 4,5* respectively.

One of the last (and best surprises) of 2008! And I must thank my PA friend Progrules. If I hadn´t see his review I´d probably skip this record. I had the first Karmakanic CD a few years ago and I didn´t like it: it sounded too derivative and some of the tunes seemed to me like just pointless jams, all done by great musicians, but definitly not my cup of tea. Well, it had a couple of tracks that I liked, but that was not enough and I gave that CD to a friend who was a Flower Kings fanatic (something I now regret). So I decided to forget about this project assuming they wouldn´t do anything better. But when I saw Progrules review (and others after that) I knew it might be good, since we have a very similar taste. The praising were so high I decided to take my changes and get the new album without hearing it.

Fortunatly all the reviews were right. Unlike its debut, Who´s The Boss In The Factory drips with conviction, passion and personality. And they are writing fantastic, symphonic prog songs! It is ok to me that the first track, the massive 19 minute epic Send A Message From The Heart sounds a lot like a Flower Kings tune, but boy, is it good! In fact it could be in any of TFK best classic albums of the 90´s. It has all the elements that made TFK the giant band they were: melodic, epic, complex, varied and holds your atention all the way through. That track alone is worth the price of the CD. But there is more.

In the second song bassist and leader Jonas Reingold seems to be revisiting his own hard rock past (with band Midnight Sun): Let In Hollywood is the perfect short track between two great epics, being at the same time different and totally in harmony with the spirit of the album (great synth solo in the middle). From then on all TFK connections fade away and the band shows they do have a very strong sound and image. And more importante, know how to craft fine symphonic tunes. It is a sound that is both complex and accessible. They have a host of guests featuring on this album (including the ominous Roine Stolt) but what it is very clear here is that they are just that : guests, for the band itself is the main atraction (something missing from their debut). Only Theo Travis (of The Tangent) sax is really outstanding on Two Blocks From The Edge.

It is hard to point a highlight since this is one of those few CDs that every track is so good and different from the other that you can´t really compare them. The three epics are my obvious choice, but all songs are excellent. Only the two parts of the poignant Eternity (Reingold´s homage to his late parents) seems a bit out of place overall, but it is beautiful anyway (fine, emotional vocal perfomance by Göran Edman). And it is a proof of the band´s versatility and great musical skill. I hear this record non stop since I got it.

Conclusion: a must have for any prog lover. 4,5 stars at least. Thanks again, Henk!

Excellent Symphonic rock album from Sweden.

The album is a side project from the bass player from the Flower Kings. Frankly, I did not know what to expect, and I did not like the sample in this website (from another album) very much. However, the extremely high reviews around this net interested me. The cover intrigued me as well, thinking that this will not be light stuff like the Wheel of Life sample here in progarchives. When it arrived, I gave it a spin and got a little worried: the epic sounded very similar to the Flower Kings' positive side while the second track sounded like a throwaway tune from The Tangent. Fortunately, the cynical third track caught my attention, the fourth sounded very good on first listen, and the last two tracks amazed me. What about the first two tracks? well, the epic grew on me a lot.

Karmakanic's Who's The Boss In The Factory? is an album which seems to be divided into three parts:

The first part consists of happy and melodic progressive rock in the form of The Flower Kings and The Tangent (or if you don't know these bands, think of the melodic side of 70s Yes or Genesis). Send a Message From The Heart starts very innocent, developing its main theme, until it grabs you with another theme played in heavy format (I love that part), then plays the main theme on guitar and the singing starts. The music has its changes, but it always stays positive and around minute 8, there's time for soloing and the amazing Zoltan&Reingold rhythm section. Afterwords, the song continues its peace&love theme. Lost in Hollywood is my least favorite track and I do not like the fast-paced pre-choruses, but I admit that it has a very catchy and amusing chorus in 7/8.

The second part is darker and features two long tracks. Who's The Boss In The Factory is a cynical dark track with unusual vocal-led choruses in a Roger Waters kind of style. They might take a bit to grow on you, but are quite easy to singalong to. The instrumental break might be the best part of the CD, starting with a synth solo in front of a metal riff, continuing with dark and mellow moods featuring a piano, and finishing with an excellent piano theme that is revisited in the end with fiery electric guitars. Two Blocks From The Edge is probably the most accessible track. It is mostly a blues track with some twists, such as catchy choruses with strong sax lines. The song is not as dark as the title track, but not as light as the first two songs.

The last part is the melancholic part of the album, featuring the song Eternally which is divided into two parts. The music here has much less emphasis on being flashy, virtuosic, or catchy. It focuses on pure raw emotion instead, and succeeds at it. pt.1 is a beautiful piano solo played by a Weather Report founding member! pt.2 introduces the lyrics after a subdued introduction and are not too direct. This is actually a song written about Reingold's parents who both died in a carcrash. It's heartbreaking and you feel sad when hearing the music, despite not being dramatic in the case of The Cure or Radiohead. Eternally features accordion, which fits in perfectly and brings in an European flavor. You can tell the accordionist is a virtuoso and the notes he chooses are spot on. The climax is a beautiful guitar solo and after it, strings and piano remain until the CD ends.

Give it a chance, especially if you are a fan of The Flower Kings or The Tangent.

I think that now, after maybe year of listening this, I'm able review correctly. Firstly four stars, not five. Back then, in times of first listenings, I hated one or two songs here, so I gave four. Then I even stopped listening "Boss" at all. Not by purpose, it just wasn't too interesting. I listened to these tracks from time to time, but nothing serious. Only those I loved.

But as the time went bye, this aged like a precious wine. Then I finally got the idea to play it all. To give a chance to these great compositions. And I did right. The end.

End of story of course, not of review. "Send a Message From the Heart", starting with less weird intro than a lot of TFK material does. But it's funny. We can hear many influences through the track by these guys (when looking at crew members, nothing strange)

"Let In Hollywood" was the one that irritated me. I found first few lines of lyrics annoying, cheap and so on. But giving it time, the song (even short) grows. And kicks the bucket of consciousness with fast pace.

Eponymous "Who's the Boss in THE Factory" (we're not gonna use word "da", right ? drugs are bad, you know kids, riiiiight?) is more similar to first song. In few things, like song length, in feeling and both are interesting. Chorus here is also present and they know how to do their job. New thing is keyboard solo (with chorus) which changes into another keyboard solo (without chorus).

"Two Blocks" starts like something which can be cheesy normal rock. Also with strange lyrics. This song proves that is good, but I don't like it much. "Hollywood" yes, there I changed my mind, but this one not too much. Most of it, yes, but end is the best.

"Eternally Part 1 and 2" is nice ending, first in quiet piano style, then turning into marching-like tone (huh? I mean one beat to drums, then four in quick tempo). Then instrument I'm not able to identify (accordeon maybe) which reminds me French tango style. Very beautiful ending.

Except "Blocks" I can't see any flaw, even "2 B" has most of it done right. Technically, there's no problem on anything, it's perfect work of experienced players.

5 stars, well deserved.

Talking about Karmakanic we cannot ignore the existence of bands like The Flower Kings and The Tangent as they all actually big family. As far as The Flower Kings concern one of the musicians that I admire his skills is Jonas Reingold (bass guitar). In The Flower Kings he has played his bass guitar wonderfully and in fact he is one of the best prog rock bass players of the 90's and 2000's. Well, the third rebirth of progressive rock was quite impressive with bands like Spock's Beard, Porcupine Tree, Transatlantic in addition to The Flower Kings. The interesting thing about Jonas Reingold was that during his spare time he composed music and joined forces with Roine Stolt, Jaime Salazar, Zoltan Csörz, Johan Glössner, Göran Edman, Robert Engstrand and Tomas Bodin, all prominent members of the progressive rock family. Karmakanic was born with good debut album 'Entering the Spectra' (2002) followed with 'Wheel of Life' (2004).

This third album titled as 'Who's The Boss In The Factory' (2008) represents the best release so far. It sounds to me that the band has been perfecting their compositions learning from their previous two releases. The beauty of prog music is when we previously had an album that was not quite impressive and later on we find another excellent release of the band we try to trace back the older albums. That comes true with me as I spin this album and I start to have curiosity with its previous release 'Wheel of Life' which when I re-spin the CD again I have another perspective about the band. In general, Karmakanic I could say is the prominent prog rock band of the 2000s as this album proves to me.

Do not try to understand, just enjoy it ...!

For me, this album is quite hard to understand and it reminds me to when I first enjoyed Yes 'Tales from Topographic Ocean' for the first time in the 70's. I think I spun until more than 5 times and I still did not get it quite right in my ears, so was the case with 'Topographic'. Then I remember with The Flower Kings 'Paradox Hotel' where I experienced similar thing. I felt that I was being 'topgrahicized' by Jonas Reingold and his friends. But when I tried to enjoy the music segment by segment I found the treasure on how great Reingold's bass playing in any segment I paid particular attention to. Not only that ?Zoltan Csorsz's drums as well as Lalle Larsson's keyboard playing. And I then tried to shift my paradigm from trying to understand the music to just enjoy it.

The major cause is I think because the opening track 'Send A Message From The Heart' is an epic that does not sound quite catchy at first spin and it took me many spins to be able to enjoy it. The track that consumes more than 19 minutes duration has practically little orientation towards a song because it changes unexpectedly in medium to fast tempo. Melody-wise there is nothing peculiar that I can draw from the epic but when I look into segment by segment movement it started to create an enjoyment to me and it really grew on me. And .. well, yeah .. I finally really love this opening track and its powerful lyrics. The ending part of this epic sounds like the epic continues to Roine Stolte's debut album titled 'The Flower King'. I think the band did it intentionally.

When the band plays the next track 'Let In Hollywood' (4:53), it does not really favor me especially the intro part that comprises acoustic guitar rhythm in fast tempo with energetic vocal line by Göran Edman. Unfortunately it's not something that creates enjoyment to my ears. But as the song moves I like the way keyboard plays its solo in the vein of Chick Corea in 'Return to Forever'. On top of that, the guitar solo is stunning and rockin' ?

The title track 'Who's the Boss In The Factory' (13:04) is another great track with intro part which starts with lyrical words 'One by One ?step by step' has similar style with Roger Water's 'What God Wants' in 'Amused to Death' album. I think the band was not aware of it and it does not quite bother me at all. This song is quite unique as it blends beautifully the components of symphonic prog with jazz rock fusion style like Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' band. I can see clearly through the piano work by Larsson where he provides nice shot during the musical break where plays catchy notes softly and it moves wonderfully into jazzy music where piano takes the lead as soloist. Not only piano that sounds nicely, the guitar solo is truly stunning and rockin' ..it reminds me to the guitar sound typically played by Mick Box of Uriah Heep fame.

'Two Blocks From The Edge' (9:51) starts mellow in the Floydian ambient through the use of guitar solo. The song moves with saxophone as soloist as well as rhythm section at background when vocal enters. The song features nice bass guitar solo in the middle of the song. I am really impressed with Reingold even though he does not play complex bass guitar solo but the sound is really great especially when it continues with guitar and sax solo. Acoustic guitar also creates good texture combined with stunning electric guitar solo by Krister Jonsson who plays in different style compared to Roine Stolt.

The closing tracks 'Eternally Part I' (1:51) and 'Eternally Part II' (6:21) make an excellent closure to this album, overall. With the first part focusing on piano solo in classical and jazzy style, it opens a great gateway to the next final track, Part II. Part II is a wonderful track with great combination of bass guitar solo and piano touch back beautifully by string arrangement. Bass guitar plays as main melody while piano creates fills strengthened by string section. When vocal line enters it sounds jazzy style with clarinet serves as filler at back ground. It's a mellow track with great clarinet / soprano sax solo and excellent piano playing.

Conclusion

If I were requested to make review with only three spins of the album I would give only three stars rating because the music was quite hard to understand. But I have listened to this album in its entirety fo more than eight (8) spins and it really grew on me everytime I listened to it, I finally cannot afford to give this wonderful album with less than five stars. It's really a masterpiece! Remember, do not try to understand the music! Just enjoy it segment by segment. If you cannot enjoy it, use Sennheiser PX-100 (PX-200 is better) headphone on your ears and play it loud. I believe you would enjoy it. Keep on proggin' ..! ?because proggin' is healthy and it cheers your life, definitely ...!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

It only matters who's the boss in the factory! This time bass player Jonas Reingold - responsible for the songwriting and production. He's part of a musical family also including members of The Flower Kings, Kaipa, The Tangent and uncounted side projects. Don't know where this album/song title comes from (not that good in interpreting lyrics). I'm quite sure the relationship between those musicians bears more democratic structures compared to a factory. Otherwise it would be hard to explain how they could reach for such an excellent output. Now that I saw them live some weeks ago it's really about time to write my impressions down.

Looking at the core line-up there is only one member I wasn't aware of so far - keyboarder Lalle Larsson. But - no wonder - his contributions are really great too. And this kind of richness also comes from the vast number of friends who contributed to the album I'm sure. When starting to listen to Send A Message From The Heart - including a short intro offered by Reingold's son Alex - you might have the impression that this is another TFK effort. It's the epic song structure, the complete implementation. A cornucopia of impressions including Genesis and Pink Floyd references plus breaks and turns en masse. Starting with marching drums, mellotron, nice vocals ... and of course Reingold's accentuated bass playing showing an impressing bandwith from heavy to melancholic.

Not necessary to emphasize that this is highly melodic. All in all it has the spirit of 'Hotel Paradox'. You won't miss fusion parts dominated by synthesizer and Jonsson's jazzy guitar. But all in all this is a heavier sound. Second track Let In Hollywood is initiated by acoustic guitar but soon develops to an uptempo art rock thing with a harder vibe. The title track is much more epical structured once more. 'One by one, step by step ...' - the catchy main refrain is impressing - inviting for singing along really. Lalle Larsson's diversified work strikes - piano and multiple synthesizer layers and on top of it we are offered a charming bass solo.

Two Blocks From The Edge comes like another shouter so to say with a rocking fundament. Theo Travis manages the saxophone parts - nice, nice. Both parts of Eternally hold Reingold's emotional impact finally, reflecting the loss of his parents. So we have a melancholic piano presence first - later coupled with Reingold's bass and background strings. Then this song developes to a gripping ballad with great vocals by Göran Edman - wonderful!

This is a friggin' killer album - a highlight of the year 2008! Roine Stolt is (nearly) missing here. He's not the boss surprisingly, only appearing on one song but involved in the mixing process anyhow. Not a pure symphonic prog album - it's more - rich of different impressions and approving much experience based on a high level of musicianship and compositorial skills.

Neo-sympho-prog is the kind of music I usually avoid but since this Karmakanic has got such a good reception I decided to ignore my recent Transatlantic trauma and have a go at it anyway.

Well I'm glad I did, even though, as I had feared, it has turned out to be a rather frustrating experience. Not because it is any bad but because I hear so much potential here that does not get fulfilled. Or rather, it gets fulfilled, but then crushed down again the next moment. Generally, this band plays excellent symphonic prog with lots of interesting grooves, progressions, solos and high-standard musicianship but, hmm, those vocals again.

The sticky finale around minute 17.00 of the epic Send a message from the heart serves as an good example, so much gospel-flavoured melodrama is hard to swallow, especially if you compare it to the great things they can achieve on the fusion infected guitar solo that follows right after it. Can a song get any more frustrating? How am I supposed to enjoy that solo without having to succumb to the vocals that precede it. (Well maybe that solo isn't all that great but just sounds good because the preceding part is so weak, a cunning trick for sure!)

The remainder of the album isn't much more consistent and keeps going back and forth between fun prog rock like Let In Hollywood and trite commercial rock vocals as in Two Blocks From The Edge. The title track is great and so is the album closer Eternally, at least till they decide to 'do a Queen' on it and spoil the last 2 minutes with bombastic pathos and big hallow sentimental gestures.

This time I can at least understand the excitement around this but I can't fully share it. Well, it's certainly a lot better then Transatlantic and I guess I'll return to listen to it. Still, frustrating, as it is almost so darn good. 3.5 stars.

Second (or even third) class Flower Kings album

The Flower Kings is (or are, but anyway) a rather unique band that have released absolutely wondrous albums throughout its existence in such a way that, by now, the band has reached some kind of mythical place in the progressive rock Pantheon alongside with the traditional important progressive rock bands, such as Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Genesis. So, like it or not, those kings of flowers are a must for anyone that is exploring the world of progressive rock and is experiencing the many styles or sub-genres of progressive rock since its sudden reappearance in the early 90's, because they are such an important band for the genre for the past 15 years and released a studio album almost every year, having a rather extense discography.

However, in recent years, since the release of their 2007 album entitled The Sum of No Evil, the core band members begun working more eagerly on their own solo projects than on the band itself: Roine Stolt put out an album of yet another solo project of his, called Agents of Mercy, and got together with his old friends and regrouped Transatlantic, Tomas Bodin released two solo albums since 2007, which are called Cinematograaf and You Are (with another band called Eggs & Dogs rather than by himself, but he is the leader of it anyway), the second part of the trilogy started in the 2005 album I AM, and, last but now least, Jonas Reingold released this album, entitled Who's The Boss In The Factory?.

There is one problem, however, with those solo efforts from those band members of Flower Kings: since they are the main writers of the band, in one way or another, their solo albums will sound like a Flower Kings album, but, since they are solo efforts, the result is, most of the times, not as great as it could be. Karmakanic's latest effort is in no way an exception to that rule. Who's The Boss In The Factory? is not a bad album by itself, but the thing is there seems to be something missing, and THAT something missing is what make this album's overall quality suffer. Of course, there are new things here that you would not expect to be in a Flower Kings album, and those are very pleasant surprises, but still unable to fully bring the album up or to make the album brighter.

The only song that really stand out is the opening track, entitled Leave a Message from the Heart, which is a great epic, but honorable mentions need to be done to the enthusiastic Two Blocks from the Edge and to the melodic and sentimental Eternally (parts 1 and 2)

The highlights go to: Leave a Message from the Heart, Two Blocks from the Edge and Eternally.

Grade and Final Thoughts

Who's The Boss In The Factory? is a quite good album, I must say, but it is unable to give me any thrills beyond the opening track, and do remembers quite a lot that other Swede band called Flower Kings. Because of all that, three stars.

Among proggers, this album was one of the most popular of 2008, and it gathered so many positive reviews I felt I had to check it out. The omens weren't too good: one look at the cover and I was afraid this was just more product from InsideOut's highly active prog factory. But "Send a Message from the Heart", the near-twenty minute opening track, blew me away. Rousing melodies, stately "symphonic" arrangements, wild Moraz-like synthesizer solos and surprisingly jazzy (almost Holdsworthian) guitar solos: the piece had it all. Besides, you could easily listen to it just for Jonas Reingold's magisterial trebly bass. It initially seemed Karmakanic had a far better chance of impressing me with their "epics" than most of their coevals.

However, on subsequent spins I must admit the glory of "Message to the Heart" diminished somewhat. It probably depends on how cynical a mood I'm in. On certain days I'm prepared to get carried away by those fake-sincere vocals. On other days I simply cannot take lines like "Compassion leads your way into the sun on your way to paradise". I understand most symphonic prog bands want to sound uplifting, but a cliché is a cliché, no matter what!

And to my regret, the remainder of the album fails to reach the level of excitement of that opening track. The second track, "Let in Hollywood", is conventional Flower Kings-style rock based on a blunt hard rocking riff. The third track (the title piece) sounds like a superfluous attempt to rebuild THE WALL, although it is redeemed a little by yet another (brief) Moraz-style synth solo, and a splendid piano middle section. "Two Blocks from the Edge" is worse: histrionic vocals AND histrionic lead guitar serve no better purpose than to illustrate run-of-the-mill adolescent angst. Empty lyrics like "What's the question, what's the answer, this life is killing me" are thrown at the listener, yet the music doesn't speak of true emotion. (To be fair, the piece ends with some truly elegant electric guitar flourishes, but it's a case of too little too late.) The final track, "Eternally" (parts one and two), is Reingold's requiem for his parents, who perished in a car crash in 2007, and I hate to say it (as in this case the composer's feelings must have been all too real) but both music and lyrics are almost unbearably sentimental.

Verdict: Good in part, but not necessarily better than the dozens of other symphonic prog albums that are being churned out nowadays.