INSPIRACION

Drama is an obscure neo prog band from Uruguay, but with a good album in their pockets released in 2002 and named Inspiracion. The music is symphonic with fine arrangements, well, not something special but pleasent most of the time. As i said the music is something between neo prog a la Marillion and some elements taken from the golden era of Genesis. I personaly like the voice of Fernando Kronos, very smooth and well singed every piece, specially the slow ones like titled track Inspiration , beautiful piece. The opening track Tu imagen and samson y dalida are the best tracks from here, delivering some fine neo prog with great interplays between guitar and keys of Flavio Gonzalez, the rest are ok, not special but not bad. Finally a band to check out if you love prog music, not recommended but worth some spins from time to time. 3 stars, good with some fine moments.

In Montevideo, Uruguay, sometime in 1996, started the career of Drama with bassist/singer Fernando Kronos and keyboardist Flavio Gonzalez forming the group, which by the next year featured also drummer Martin Lopez.The group would work with several guitarists and drummers in the next years, always managing to record original material, but the stable members would not enter the picture before 2000, when guitarist Javier Benich joined the group, followed two years later by drummer Mike Hinkediker.It was the same year when the Brazilian label Rock Symphony decided to release Drama's debut ''Inspiracion''.

The album contains all the right elements to possibly create a nice Symphonic Rock experience.Smooth keyboards, intense atmospheres, symphonic edgy synthesizers and a quite talented vocalist.There are even some romantic acoustic moments and light piano intros to complete a good musical background.The overall performance of the group though simply fails to strike the listener.It sounds often a bit lifeless, the tracks lack these killer parts that make them memorable, while the delivery of Drama seems very secure and one-dimensional at moments, despite the symphonic nature of the album.Some more powerful passages and more dynamic playing seems at moments the factor that could give the album a lift.Of course this is not one of the albums you should throw in a bin.''Sanson y Dalila'', propably the best track of the album, actually defines how this group should be playing, featuring excellent bombastic keyboards, dramatic guitars and nice vocals.The rest of the tracks have some decent moments, but the voice of Fernando Kronos is the most charming listening of all.

I am sad to say that this group could have done it much better than what is taped on this album.Average Neo/Symphonic Prog, lacking energy and fiery moments, saved by sporadic parts and one sole great track.Approach with caution if you are a fan of the style...2.5 stars.