WRATH OF NATURE

4.5 really

Solar Architect second release from 2010, release two month ago and named Wrath of nature is another worthy heavy prog album of the highest calibre. Everything here is very well done, from the brilliant cover art made by Kelly Dodd who this time leave the keyboards to a more arthistical fenture and the result is fantastic, I never saw a covert art so well done and so expressive, to the musical arrangements all is excellent. The instrumental passages remind me of Rush , '70's period and specially of 2112 or Caress of steel period, but also some Iron Maiden elements here and there, specially from first two Iron Maiden albums. The music is all instrumental, so every musician show their full potential on every piece. Very energic pieces, where bass lines interludes very well with the guitar and with the fantastic druming of Frank Madore, very skillfull musicians, even at first listen it doesn't sound like this. Every pieces is nice developed and with intelligent arrangements, very strong musicianship and above all, this band sounds very original in places, even they trace influences from glorious '70's. Pieces like Glaciers I never heared before such bass arrangements like on this track, belive one of the better examples how must be used this instrument in this subgenre, fantastic Rob Niman is one hell of a musician, and the last track , an epic monumental piece - The tempest - of 19 min where every musician shines , brilliant piece and a grand final for such a fantastic album. A top rate release, one of the best I've heared lately and one of my fav in last years, and a good candidate for one of the best for this year. Recommended , Solar Architect really done it this time, it is a shame that they are so unkown in progressive rock circles. Almost a masterpiece, Rush or Iron Maiden fans will love this album, and all listners who are opened for ethusiatical and energic progressive rock. Album available at cdbaby, don't hesiate to take some spins.

I didn't realize until I sat down to do this review that this band was from Canada. They are a trio and play all instrumental music that has a RUSH flavour to it. Man these three guys can sure play, very impressive workouts with lots of tempo and mood shifts. Great looking cover art as well. A thankyou to b olaru is in order because it was his review that led me to check them out.

"The Land Of Angry Mushrooms" is a scary place especially if you start to eat them. Okay now that I got that out of the way this 5 minute opener is such a great sounding track especially the guitar. Some chunky bass too. "Glaciers" starts off in a relaxing way when the gentle guitar comes in. A beat follows. It's a little more fuller with guitar and bass 2 1/2 minutes in. It turns heavy after 7 minutes as it slows down. "Claustrophobia" opens with outbursts of sound that come and go. It settles in around a minute. Check out the guitar and bass 3 minutes in.The tempo continues to shift. The bass is outstanding early on in "Ripple Effect". It's building. Guitar before a minute.

"Blackfly" is a good title for you Northern guys up there in Ottawa. We don't see those down here in sunny Wasaga Beach. This song sounds so good especially the rhythm section. Ripping guitar before 3 minutes. "Ozone" opens with atmosphere as sounds come and go until it kicks in before a minute. "The Tempest" is the 19 1/2 minute closer. Acoustic guitar to open followed by some atmosphere 2 minutes in. It picks up before 3 minutes and gets heavier. It settles again as the tempo continues to change at will. This is such a trip as the soundscape continues to evolve and transform. It has to be heard to be believed.

I really like this album, I WANT to sit down and listen to it which is always a good sign.