HYDROTOXIN

Wow!!!! Why this is in the progmetal categories? I not like metal music in general, but this music is really awesome and challenging!!! It's hard define the style, it's more in the hard prog vein that prog metal; i found just some Dream Theather influencies just for the drum, but the rest is very original. The singer has a strong and strange voice, not in hight picth like you're used to other metal prog bands...but he sing very well and he is very good to modulate his voice in delicate passages as well as in much more heavy tunes. There are nice guitar and keyboards riff and the keys remember a bit Marillion....that meet Kevin Moore of DT. The guitar is very rhytmic and use strange riff derivative from funky...i can hear some Micheal Jackson or Primus influencies...and is often used in a smart way, no ugly metal riff...no ugly or sinister armonies. All is really magic...i could define his style fantasy metal, because there are too much original catchy, and melodic ideas...all arranged in a perfect way that prog metal is too much reductive!!!

WOW!!!WARNING!FORGOTTEN MUSICAL JEWEL!I really cannot believe that this German band had only this album released!They were so inspired and came at the right moment to bring their "offering'to the altar of very goood progressive music!Especially the vocalist is impressive-JIOTI PARCHARIDIS,also lead vocal after this experience in HUMAN FORTRESS and now with a guitar player from ACCEPT,in a more metallic veine!Jioti is a a true reference,a perfect example for this musical style,with a so wonderful voice,warm and powerful in the same time!The atmosphere on this album is so fine,we really have the feeling to be a part of a musical journey.an aquatic journey!Of course,the DREAM THEATER influence...oh,yes...always them,is so present,but HYDROTOXIN have their own personality and mark!Long songs,with long instrumental passages,but none second of poor ideas,and a superbe sound of the guitar.and rich keyboards ideas in the same time!In my humble opinion,this is an unexplainable error ,an underrated album,undoubtedly hard fo find nowadays,but a precious one for those whu have the cahance to already have it!It's a shame that the musicians in HYDROTOXIN never succeeded to hit at an international level,and I don't know if it was a life after OCEANS!Even the cover is so nice and promissing for a music that will please any prog metal fan!It sounds maybee forced,but I rate this album with the heart and feeling for some beautiful years in my life...so 5 STARS for them,and a true regret,a sincere regret for the fact that this album was unique for HYDROTOXIN!

Hydrotoxin is a german progressive metal who released only one album in 1996 named Oceans. I know this album since he was released more then a decade ago and was a surprise for me. Being similar with Dream Theater (of course), Empty Tremor or Madsword, they bring nothing new in this genre, but the tight and excelent musicianship gives me a very pleasent album. What stroke at first listening was the brilliant voice of Jioti Parcharidis ( also know from bands like Chateau or Victory fame), his range is incredible, giving on some pieces a realy great and colorful atmosphere ex: Infinite Ways and Nexus., on the rest is also very strong. The gear of this band is very tight and very well developed across the album giving a very solid musicianship, specialy the keybordis Oliver Hintz is top notch. The main influence of the band is Dream Theater, that complex and quirky pieces that made famouses in the'90's are present here at he highest level, also they propose a melodic side of prog metal, not one very rough, but still very pleasent. Also 5 tracks from 7 are long enough to show that they mean bussines with this album, even is a debute , everything is well done and at the right place. It's a shame that they disbanded soon after this release , they were a promising band with a good album in their pockets, but sometimes is not enough to have only a great album. Two instrumental pieces grace Oceans: Door To December, a mid tempo piece, guitar dominating remind me in places of Vinie Moore and the last one Aquasun is an atmospheric and very spacey piece with keyboars as main role. In the end a great album and very unnoticed in prog circles, desearve for sure, at least from my side 4 stars. The cover art is very strange but fits like glove with the atmosphere from the album.

I stumbled across this album when it was on sale for (I believe) ?4,=.

Fine prog Metal band from German who, for as far as I can tell, only recorded one CD.

If you're into ("When day and dream unite" period )Dream Theater, or Labÿrinth then I guess you'll like this a lot. Hydrotoxin was (is?) clearly a band with a lot of potential, this particular CD features intricate prog-metallish tracks of which "Infinite ways" and "Oceans" are my favourites.

The Drums are a lot like Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy, following the emphasis in the songs, adding enough to support the guitars or keyboards, but more relaxed than Portnoy's work.

The vocals by Jioti Parcharidis is a mixture of DT's James LaBrie and Labÿrinth's Roberto Tiranti, although not as monotonous as Tiranti can be sometimes, especially during the early Labÿrinth albums prior to their 7th album entitled "Labÿrinth". Although Jioti's a good singer, it's not as good as LaBrie is......well, the way James Labrie is studio-wise, that is. The band features fine played and percieved guitar parts by Andreas Kienitz, nothing earth moving, but in this production all's well and in it's place. The keyboards are a mixture of Derek Sherinian meets marillion's Mark Kelly (The keys on track 3 : "Labyrinth" are great)

well produced and performed album for prog metal lovers.

Standout tracks : Infinite Ways, Oceans, labyrinth. Lesser tracks : Doors to december, aquasun.