BEYOND THE RAINBOW

German band SARIS has a history that goes back to 1981, and have numerous line-up alterations in their almost 40 year long history as a band, especially for the first 30 or so years. For the past decade or so the band have remained firm though, and this has also been the most productive span of the band's history. "Beyond the Rainbow" is their third album with the current line-up, and the band's fifth studio production overall, and was released through German label Progressive Promotion Records in 2020.

"Beyond the Rainbow" strikes me as a pleasantly engaging production, the kind of album that quite a few people will like and enjoy, but where the audience that will love and cherish this production will be more finite and in a certain niche. The niche in question here being fans of 90's era neo progressive rock in general, and those fond of bands with a harder edge and a focus on moods, atmospheres and majestic keyboard arrangements in this subset of progressive rock in particular.

German band Saris have had more than a few challenges over the years since their initial inception in 1981, but guitarist/keyboard player Derk Akkerman has been there throughout, and their last three albums have all featured the same line-up. They have two lead singers in Anja Günther and Henrik Wager although Henrik does by far the majority, plus there are another seven backing singers, yet somehow the vocals do not feel over the top. This is neo-prog, with guitars often to the fore but also with driving keyboards, which makes one think firmly of the Nineties yet with a modern approach and production. The arrangements are key, as while there are times when it feels quite orchestral, it is never overblown.

It is inviting and compelling, at times quite dated yet also feeling modern, and the result is an album which is accessible, often fairly gentle with mild vocals. For it to move to another level it would need to have more of an edge, as this all feels just a little too mellow and safe and never really thrusting with the bite one likes to get from the genre, although of course this could be quite different in the live environment. A solid release, which fans of neo-prog could do well to look out for.