QUANTUM PHASE TRANSITION

Releasing their only other album to some acclaim in 2020, five years later the Spanish band has had time to grow around Jose Ruiz's wonderful guitar skills into something that is garnering quite a lot of attention.

1. "Patibulum" (9:10) AISLES or LAZULI-like sophisticated and idiosyncratic smooth prog in which the band tries to "sneak" in some death metal growl passages. (17.5/20)

2. "La fábrica de barro" (6:25) Now this is more like it: the Latin/Spanish roots can really be felt in this one (as well as some Texas Southern Rock ALLMAN BROTHERS style). The use of cheesy synth-keyboard sound and some questionable effects on the other instruments almost ruins the vibe for me, but I cannot deny this as great music. A top three song, for sure. (9/10)

3. "Dunas" (9:09) a had a feeling that there was more hybridized Mexican-1980s New Wave in store for me on this album, and here it is. There are some interesting riffs and motifs off-balanced by an equal number of cheezy-simple elements. This continuous theme leads me to beleive that this band is only an album or two away from an absolute stunner: something that will make them a name to remember in modern progressive rock music. Overall, this song felt like I was caught in a perpetually repeating time loop of music inspired by STYX's Grand Illusion. (17.5/20)

4. "Brujería" (9:13) a mix of some proficient guitar-centric Classic Rock like SANTA ESMERALDA or GHOST MEDICINE and CHROMA KEY. The solo acoustic guitar section in the seventh through ninth minutes is most excellent--and welcomed--finishing with the perfect acoustic whole band ending. Definitely my favorite song on the album. (18/20)

5. "Evolution" (18:50) a very odd collection of sounds, themes, and styles that feels poorly engineered and rather haphazardly constructed. Again, there is the rather unusual attempt to force some death metal growls into the crossover-symphonic music created and developed as the main stylistic palette. There's a lot to enjoy in this song--like the synth-led spacey instrumental passage in the tenth and eleventh minutes--and the electric guitar play in the 14th and 15th minutes, bet then the simplistic bass, drum, and non-lead guitar play and often-annoying synth solos cause me to furrow my brow. (35/40)

6. "Epílogo" (1:56) Tex-Mex distorted Southern Rock guitar plus acoustic guitar duet. Though familiar--like I've heard it before--it's definitely enjoyable. (4.5/5)

Total Time 54:43

An interesting album. It's as if Chilean band AISLES tried to try death metal--diverting so much energy and attention from their normal sound and compositional prowess to do so that they fail to go through the steps to thoroughly polish the songs that they created. In my opinion this band is being far too conservative: they seem to have the talent to do music much more complex and nuanced than this--and they definitely need more time and attention given to their "finishing" polishes.

B/four stars; an excellent collection of diversified music all with the foundation in guitarist Jose Ruiz's excellent guitar playing.

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Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | Review this album | Report (Review #3192533)

This is a radical departure from their debut album, which featured a modern beauty created by soothing sound effects and restrained playing that produced a deep resonance, like a sleepy blend of post-rock and jazz-rock. This time, they've enthusiastically incorporated influences from King Crimso ... (read more)

Report this review (#3192336) | Posted by ProgfanJP | Monday, June 2, 2025 | Review Permanlink

AND ANOTHER GEM FROM THE OVERLOOKED CURRENT SPANISH PROG! "Ekzilo was born with my first compositions in 2017. After searching for musicians (from Lorca, the region of Murcia, close to Andalucia) who could help to develop this project, the original line-up was formed and our first demos were ... (read more)

Report this review (#3189247) | Posted by TenYearsAfter | Thursday, May 22, 2025 | Review Permanlink

Another great spanish band As I've said before, this is a good era for Spanish progressive music. In recent years, we've heard great bands like Malabriega, Noah Histeria, Cielo Drive, Vientos Moderados del Este, Jordi Farreras, Joan Villalonga, and Javier Miranda. The Astronomy Records label ... (read more)

Report this review (#3178794) | Posted by Stoneburner | Thursday, April 17, 2025 | Review Permanlink

The particles shift their collective behavior. 'Quantum Phase Transition' is an album that confidently stands on that fine line where restraint is worth more than excess. This mostly instrumental work, with only two vocal tracks (the opener and the closer), dives into a state of carefully m ... (read more)

Report this review (#3178727) | Posted by Circuito_Prog | Thursday, April 17, 2025 | Review Permanlink

This second album by Ekzilo represents a radical evolution from their self-titled debut. It has a magic quality. It mixes a thousand surprising things, and they all fit together. The album never strays, even though he has plenty of opportunities, haha. It takes risks and excels. The instrumental ... (read more)

Report this review (#3178040) | Posted by higgins | Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | Review Permanlink

This year, I've fallen hard for the new wave of Spanish prog, a full-blown infatuation fueled by the resurgence sparked by labels like AmarXe and Astronomy Recording Music. Just recently, I dove into Malabriega's Frippada Andaluza, a stunning gem that quickly earned its place in my collection. Quant ... (read more)

Report this review (#3171750) | Posted by ProgElectronicFan | Friday, April 4, 2025 | Review Permanlink

I didn't know Ekzilo before this second album. I had the opportunity to listen to it in full and I was very impressed. It's a truly original and unique mix! There are classic progressive rock elements, many different keyboard parts, and more modern elements (even fans of Riverside or progressive met ... (read more)

Report this review (#3161073) | Posted by IagoMs | Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Review Permanlink

The second album by the Spanish band Ekzilo represents a huge impact and evolution from their debut, "Ekzilo" (2020). The band has incorporated new elements into their music and taken a giant leap forward in terms of sound design. The first thing that strikes you are the vocals, present in two of ... (read more)

Report this review (#3160843) | Posted by JavierMiranda | Saturday, March 8, 2025 | Review Permanlink

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