BORN GIFTED / PARAGON

To my huge surprise I noticed that Prog Archives has put the Dutch progrock band Nangyala on the site! Well, this an emotional experience for me because I've followed the band a long time, I've written many reviews about them in Dutch progrock magazines, the front cover picture from their debut-CD has been taken one mile from my home and their very talented guitarplayer Pieter Hanja became a friend of mine for some years! My CD single (a promo) includes the two tracks "Born gifted" (8.20) and "Paragon" (12.44). The first one is a compelling song featuring lots of changing climates, exciting guitarwork, powerful drums, very disctinctive vocals (with a pleasant emotional undertone) and sensational synthesizer flights. The other composition is Nangyala's finest moment and has been broadcasted (as the single version of "Paragon") on the local Dutch television TV West. It starts with a mid-tempo rhythm, wonderful strings, twanging guitarplay, bluesy vocals, suddenly interrupted by a bombastic break delivering a heavy guitar outburst. Then climates that changes from mellow to hevay metal featuring again great guitarplay by Pieter Hanja (he easily changes from sensitive to heavy metal). Halfway the atmosphere shifts to ominous featuring hypnotizing drum beats, soaring strings, whispering vocals and propulsive guitar riffs, VERY COMPELLING. The rhythm goes faster and faster featuring a splendid and very exciting duel between the howling guitar runs and sensational synthesizer runs, I'M PROUD TO BE DUTCH! In the final part the music slows down until it erupts and slows down again with a howling guitar and soaring keyboards. I had high expectations from this very promising Dutch progrock but due to musical disputes they disbanded a few years ago and until now, nobody has re-entered the progrock scene. I keep on waiting!

In 1999 Nangyala returned with a new mini-CD entitled, ''Born gifted/Paragon'', which was another self-production by the band.A couple of line-up shakes sees new lead singer Daniel Woltgens taking the place of Alex Armaos and Pieter Hanja feeling in the place of the departing Stefan van de Anker.

Following the line-up changes, there is also a refreshment regarding the style of the group, which is more focused and directed to Neo Prog grounds.''Born gifted'' was actually written by the already gone Alex Armaos, but the the track was destined to be sung by Woltgens, nicely indicating the new direction of Nangyala, which was a combination of Neo and Heavy Prog with monster, orchestral synthesizers and powerful electric guitars, accompanied by the pretty decent vocals of the new singer and reminding at the end the later-days ARENA.Very angular, dynamic and groovy stuff.''Paragon'' clocks at almost 13 minutes and here the band tries to fit its energetic and passionate Neo/Heavy Prog music with more refined and elaborate atmospheres, based on mellow, lyrical textures.The dramatic, instrumental middle-part with the bombastic synths and the crying guitar moves is absolutely great and the piece works well in this combination of alternating calm and pounding soundscapes.The third track of this mini-CD is just a radio version of ''Paragon'', cut in 4 minutes.

What appeared to be some decent potential in ''Spheres'' becomes reality with ''Born gifted/Paragon''.Nangyala focused on the Neo side of Progressive Rock and the result is absolutely satisfying.Recommended.