1/2: THOUGHT AND MATTER

There aren't many instrumental quartets playing prog metal, yet here we have a Russian band back with their second album doing just that. I've been able to find out very little about them, and that is a real shame, as when music is as good as this then there is a requirement for people to know about it! Hailing from Voronezh they liken themselves to acts such as Liquid Tension Experiment and Joe Satriani, and I for one can also hear plenty of Steve Vai in some of the shredding and arrangements. Guitarist Grigory Kuronov also provides all of the music, although it is then arranged by the band, but this isn't as much a guitar fest as one might imagine from that as he ensures that Vyacheslav Bessonov (keys) also has the opportunity to shine and they often duet, or one gives major support to the other. The rhythm section of Vitaly Zotov (bass) and Roman Gorodnyansky (drums) is extremely tight and this allows the other two to crank it up and have some fun.

Although they are wonderfully melodic (with more than a touch of the Seventies AOR scene at times), this is first and foremost a band that is happily more into metal than rock. They run through the crunching guitars, with loads of complexity when it is the right time, but they don't ram their musical virtuosity into the throats and ears of their listeners. Vyacheslav has more than a hint of Don Airey about what he does, providing the musical finesse and cream that allows Grigory to really crunch the riffs when he wants to, or shred like a demon at others. This is a real gem of an album, one that is accessible the very first time it is played and from there on in it just keeps getting better. www.mals.ru

Russian band MIND PORTAL was formed in 2009, and already one year after their formation they released their debut album "1/1". While their debut album apparently was assembled fairly quickly, it would take this quartet a few more years to be ready with their next CD, but in early 2014 they returned with "1/2: Thought and Matter", released through MALS Records.

Instrumental progressive metal that, roughly, can be described as belonging to the Dream Theater school of progressive metal is what Mind Portal provides on their second album "1/2: Thought and Matter". It is a well made and intriguing album, constantly moving somewhere and constantly developing, maintaining nerve, tension and interest with relative ease. A diverse and compelling production of old school progressive metal, well worth a check if you know or suspect that this is something you'd appreciate.

Mind Portal is an excellent prog rock/prog metal band from Russia with 2 albums in their pockets so far. To tell the truth both albums are more then awesome, really solid releases, little known in prog circles. The second release from 2014 named 1/2: Thought And Matter is another top instrumental prog metal album with fusion elements added in the mix.

Here are 6 pieces, very lenghty with exception of one piece, the rest are above 8 min, very solid musicianship I heare here, realy some fantastic parts on opening title track Though and matter, realy great tune with fantastic ideas and great interplays between guitar and keys. In fact all pieces are great, not a weak moment here, I was kinda surprise to see how unknown they are to prog public, is a good record that is needing to be heared and appreciat at true value. Maybe I'm little biased because I've descovered latley some fantastic bands from Russia playing intristing progressive rock, even better then bands with big names, one of them is Mind Portal. Pleasent compostions quite complex, the band knew how to give to the listner something worth investigated. For me the Vyacheslav Bessonov keyboards are killer and in duelings with Grigory Kurnosov guitar make an intresting album to have always changing in mood and tempo.

So, 4 stars for this album, fans of the genre need to discover this band, in my opinion better then the debut who was already a solid one.