ANTI-DEPRESSIVE DELIVERY

3.5 stars.This album is much different from their debut.Heck,you just have to look at the album cover to know these guys have done a 180 degree turn from their Tech/Extreme Prog Metal days.The album cover is pretty funny though with the guys dressed like fruits and vegetables.The music itself has a vintage seventies feel to it with lots of organ. "Starchaser" opens aggressively before it settles as vocals come in.The contrast continues.Nice guitar solo after 5 minutes. "Desert Machine" reminds me a little of DEEP PURPLE.Powerful drums and organ lead the way as vocals join in.Mellotron before 3 minutes,guitar follows. "Accordion Woman" features lots of organ in the intro before it settles as vocals arrive.Tasteful guitar 2 minutes in and some good chunky bass before 3 minutes. "Terminal" hits the ground running with vocals,riffs and organ. It calms down after a minute and the contrast continues. "Blood Is Blood" is led early by drums,guitar and organ.It settles as again contrasts are continued.Vocals after 4 minutes. "We Will Crimson You" is by far my favourite and obviously with that title there is a KING CRIMSON flavour to this one.Lots of heaviness and it's quite dark.This is an instrumental by the way.My only complaint is that it's too short. "U" opens with vocals and a full sound.A nice heavy sound before 2 1/2 minutes.The guitar sounds great 3 minutes in. "Undead" is fairly laid back with some instrumental outbreaks. "Nothing New" features some nice guitar a minute in,then vocals,bass and drums take over.It settles after 2 minutes and the contrast continues. An improvement over their debut but for me it's still lacking something.Good album though.

One of my favourite discoveries of 2008 (though this album comes from 2007) is this excellent band from Norway. Anti-Depressive Delivery produce a type of music that I've heard many times before yet I can't really think of any current bands off the top of my head that I can draw a parallel with. For me the Tech/Extreme Prog Metal category is a bit misleading, for while they play driving heavy rock, the type we loved in the seventies, they have far more in common with the likes of Deep Purple than any bands in the Prog Metal Genre. Along with the heavy rock, throw in a bit of Funk, Jazz and seventies Prog and you get an idea of their sound.

Starchaser kicks in full force with a driving riff before settling into a Hammond heavy verse surprisingly reminiscent of The Small Faces circa Ogdens Nut Gone Flake; yes there seems to be some sixties influences in here too. In the main though it's a rocker with an excellent lengthy instrumental section section in the middle. A great opener and one of the strongest tracks here.

Desert Machine is another excellent Hammond driven up tempo rocker almost as good as opener Starchaser and is than a mellotron I hear? There's also an excellent Hammond solo and in Vocalist (also bass) Pete Beck they have a great singer in the classic rock tradition.

Another favourite is Terminal, another rocker, simple in structure but a great riff with a strong melody. Following on from this is Blood in Blood with its funky driving rhythm with some jazz inflected electric piano. At 7 minutes long, it opens with a 3 minute instrumental workout before the pace drastically drops for a more subdued vocal section.

The title of We Will Crimson You says it all, a nod of course to King Crimson circa Red and is a short instrumental. U maintains the quality with some more Crimson influences in the first guitar solo but that's where the Crimson comparisons stop as its more of a psychedelic tinged piece of heavy rock overall.

So if you enjoy early seventies style heavy rock with plenty of Hammond organ this could be the cd for you. Well worth checking out and deserving of far more attention than it's likely to get.

Good Strong Classic Progressive Rock

Sub-genre: Tech/Extreme Progressive-Metal (No/No Yes-No, heavy prog or eclectic would fit)
For Fans of: Kansas, Deep Purple with a hint of Floyd,King Crimson and Queen
Vocal Style: Rock and Roll! Beautiful harmonies abound
Guitar Style: Hard driving 70's distorted style with tasty clean breaks
Keyboard Style: Lots of classic B3, Rhodes and the occasional blast of Moog portamentos.
Percussion Style: Standard rock kit, bongo's too I think
Bass Style: Picked electric
Other Instruments: None

Summary: Every once in a while an entire country will just suddenly blow me away. Right now it seems to be Norway, and with very differing styles. Anti-Depressive Delivery creates a grand display of eclectic progressive styles in their sophomore release Chain of Foods. A recent question was brought forth, "Can retro be progressive?" Anti-Depressive Delivery makes the answer very clear. It can very well be progressive if it is done well. One trap set for modern progressive rock bands is the technology trap. Anti-depressive Delivery use twenty-first century technology sparingly and effectively create a beautiful throw back sound that is most frequently reminiscent of classic Kansas. The trap is most often sprung on keyboard players. How many times have we heard a classic '70's keyboard god suddenly sound cheesed out due to "modern" key sounds? Keybordist Håkon Marius Pettersen holds court with strong classic Hammond and Fender Rhodes sounds and never a hint of disgusting horn or string patches. The guitars are equally tasteful, avoiding the stiff and compressed distortions common to recent music. Not there is anything wrong with that, it just would not fit this product at all.

The Kansas parallels are also drawn easily in the Steve Walsh style vocals and broad rock harmonies. During the softer moments it not completely unlike hearing Crosby, Stills and Nash singing behind Pink Floyd, as in the song Undead and the last half of Blood is Blood. But the stylistic melting pot does not stop there. The aforementioned song starts with a very solid funk section that winds the listener up before launching him into a cozy beanbag cloud. There is also a simultaneous homage to King Crimson and Queen with the tastily satirical instrumental We Will Crimson You.

Final Score: A quick, easy favorite; strange thing is, this not usually the kind of band that I really go nuts for. But this album is so well constructed and just feels oh so good to listen too. Every Heavy, Symphonic, Crossover, Eclectic and even some Neo fans will have something to enjoy in this album. Chain of Foods is a must for any comprehensive prog collection. Did I mention I really, really like this album? 5 stars

This sophomore release by Norwegian act Antidepressive Delivery certainly delivers lots of goodies to it's listeners; especially of certain types of 70's music is to your liking.

A dominating feature on this release is the combination of hard, driving guitar riffs and Hammond organ; in a typical 70's hard rock style which first and foremost makes you think about Deep Purple. The style isn't that close though, but the sound reminds of both them and Uriah Heep at times. However, more mellow segments as well as complicated parts are added to the compositions on this album - soaring keyboard layers and dampened funky guitar riffs as well as atmospheric guitar soloing; and in these mellow sections there are some Genesis and Camel moments. Again not similar in style, but with certain passages containing a similar sound at times. A fourth artist to namedrop here is Santana; as there are quite a few fusion moments here reminding (again more in sound than style) of this fine giant of the 70's. And the band sees to it to make a fifth influence rather obvious on the tune We will Crimson You.

Mixed together, this combination makes for an album that has a familiar sound to it; without sounding like a copy of any artists - at least not any big name ones - that can think off. A good release with strong tunes, with a mood that most certainly lives up to the band's chosen moniker.

Penny is a slut machine!

Good, now that I have your attention let's begin. Anti-Depressive Delivery is a Norwegian band oozing with oldschool progressive sounds and techniques. Though they may have been slapped with the Extreme metal label and have songs with titles like the previously mentioned Penny Is A Slut Machine, there's still a lot of music here that should appeal to just about any prog head. They're a bit on the heavy side still, although they don't have the growl or scream vocals normally associated with the subgenre. Actually, they're more defined by a heavy use of mellotron and organs than anything else. If forced to choose a band to compare them too the easiest way would be to say, ''kind of like a heavy, jazzy Riverside but with a lighter tone''.

This debut from the band shows a lot of promise. Unfortunately they'd be dropped during the recording of their second album which would eventually be available for free download, and it would never be completely finished. What's strange about this is that the second album is actually a lot stronger than the first, and while Chain For Foods was an excellent step forwards for the band their life would be cut unfortunately short right then and there. Of course, getting back to this album, we have a mix of some very good prog material and some good rock material. Some of the tracks which will appeal more to the progheads are the ones that have the synths, hammonds and mellotrons right up front. Good examples of this are found mostly in the second half of the album starting with the unforgettably quirky opening of the title track, Feel. Melt. Release. Escape., which also features some of the album's best vocals in the haunting chorus. 0 is another excellent track, as well as is the self titled track The Anti-Depressive Delivery, which is actually more of a rocker with the proggy instruments pureed into the mix.

Of course, that's not to say that the first half of the album is forgettable. The opener of the album also provides a good mix as the band does so well, and actually seems to show where the band would be going on their next album. End Of Days is a strong track with a killer bassline and those ever present synths and melltrons that wash over the progger. Add in some metal guitars and surprisingly strong vocals and you have quite the first impression. Voyage Of No Brain Discovery is where the metal side of the band really starts to shine through with the driving drum beat, while Penny Is A Slut Machine provides some great instrumentation to back up it's odd title.

Of course, and as would be expected, the standout of the album has to be the 15-minute closing track Bones & Money. Opening with some gorgeous piano work for about two minutes the synths and vocals kick in for some very nice emotional work here. Hardly an extreme track, this shows the band at their best (although I would argue that Blood Is Blood from their next album would be their absolute pinnacle). This one keeps midpaced but does manage to grow darker and heavier over the course of the track. Some impressive keyboarding at the end as well.

All in all this makes for a very good record. I certainly wouldn't recommend it over their second album (which may never see the light of day), but it makes for a pleasant and rewarding listen. Recommended! 3 bones out of 5, good, but don't worry if you can't find it.

One of the best bands-to-be out there.

Failing to make any waves with their first album, this Norwegian group got themselves together and started to make this monster of an album. Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond my knowing, the band was dropped by their label and soon disbanded. This album was never finished, but was released as a free download on the internet for all to enjoy. Confusing to this fact is the production value of the album. It doesn't sound raw at all... really, it sounds like the band put tons of polish on the album... quite confusing for an album that would never hit shelves. More evidence to support the fact that this album is unfinished is the fact that the album doesn't even sport any cover art. Not that that takes away from the album at all. In fact, the only time that it shows that the album is unfinished is that the final song when... well, I'll let that be a surprise.

It's a real shame that this band never really got the feet under it to go anywhere, because the music here is fantastic!

As previous reviewers have stated, it's likely better to ignore the tech/extreme label on the band here. The music here really sounds like X-over or even heavy prog. Any fans of those genres will likely be blown away by this album. Strong bass lines (always a selling point for me) and some wonderful organ parts (reminiscent of classic Deep Purple) are what highlight this album so much along with some excellent melodies and hooks that demand repeated listening.

Opening with the quirky STARCHASER this album never lets down. The keys and guitars kick in right away as do the killer bass lines. Rapidly changing pace the song makes its way with some truly excellent moments. The floating keys in the background give the song an airy feel among all that pounding rhythm section until the song finally comes to an end. To quote the song Enjoy the ride!. DESERT MACHINE continues with the strong bass lines and drives across this heavy song with a bang. ACCORDION WOMAN is the song that brings forth the most notable Deep Purple influences, its notable riff and organ making for a nice combination as the catchy chorus blends in for a very notable track. Getting heavier and more into the guitar work is TERMINAL, similar to its predecessor in terms of organ/guitar work, this song is actually probably the simplest song out the of the mix so far. Still good none the less, and a good song to rock out to. A slow bridge/chorus also make for an interesting mixture.

Then we get to the really good stuff.

BLOOD IS BLOOD is the biggest standout on the album. Being the longest track this song also manages to capture everything already mentioned about the album that's great. Half of the song being an instrumental overture, the band really gets to strut their stuff here. The killer bass lines are back with a vengeance and so are the keys. The guitar drifts a bit more towards the background here but still provides a nice section. Really picking up around the 2 minute mark everything just keeps getting faster and better until everything simply dies off and the vocals bring out the song with some much more subdued work from the other members. Fantastico!

Coming into the second half of the album the band still manages to keep interest.

Starting off the mix is the quick instrumental WE WILL CRIMSON YOU. A clearly Fripp inspired song that's quite good (if not quite Crimson caliber), and the guitar actually coming to the foreground to take the helm from the keys and bass for a bit, even if they still are there. Almost bordering on Black Sabbath (mixed with the KC) sounding, this song is a nice change in pace. U is a quirky track that's yet another change in pace. Heavy and clunky, this track shows off the more metal side of the band. UNDEAD is a fairly lo-key track that feels necessary to start to tail off the album with. Good but not great, this song actually feels like a bit of filler. However, all is forgiven with the next (and final) track. NOTHING NEW is an unfortunately accurate and slightly foreboding title (it's their last song, so nothing new after this!). The song, however, is marvelous! slower than it's brothers yet still wonderful ear candy, this song is another one of those songs that epitomizes what the band does best. More great bass lines and keys coupled with some more to the front guitar work and blissful melodies makes one want this song to last forever. Coming to the end with some Wakeman like boards and a guitar that really picks up the song...the song... the song..!!! ... cuts off. It just ends. Likely meant to be the album's epic and never finished the song really just leaves you wanting more, which is both good and bad. Good because that's how an album should always end (with you wanting more) but bad because they're never going to follow up on this album and their debut will likely be tough to find. Oh well.

Wonderful music from a terribly misfated band that is recommended to all. (As mentioned before) Fans of heavy prog and X-over should give this album a shot, because it's a wonderfully hidden gem. Anyone who wants to check them out can search them up on the internet and download the album for free (and legally, too). 4 stars, it's not a masterpiece... but it sure is a great listen.

This is their second and final album, now released as a free download. I think it is very sad that the band did not find a record label willing to release it. Which is our gain.

First of all; forget the label "Tech/Extreme Prog Metal" on this album. The correct label for this album is probably Eclectic Prog. When I say probably, I refer to the wide varieties of music styles this album runs through on it's way to the end. The sound is firmly rooted in the 1970s, though, but as an entity, it is almost impossible to review it because of it's a smorgasboard of musical genres. From jazz and funk, via Canterbury prog and through rock to hard rock. The style-changes happens almost every half a minute.

Let's take the opening track Starchaser. It starts like a fresh piece of big band jazz before it touches into rock and then goes into a wild goose-chase into big band jazz and funk before it leaps back into rock again. The tone is set for the rest of the album. Some of the other songs has some clear references to the Canterbury scene (the seven minutes long Blood Is Blood being the best example). Bad Company and hard rock bands like early Rainbow and Whitesnake also has made an impact on this album. The main instruments on this album is organs and guitars, with some clever bass and drums in the bottom of the mix. The vocals are in the David Coverdale and Graham Bonnet mould. On some of the tracks, the references to the 1970s funk scene are pretty strong.

This album is so multilayered and varied that it is almost impossible to make any sense out of it and then put it down on paper. But when it comes to liking or disliking it, I fall firmly down on liking it. It has a charm of a newborn polar bear cub and the punch of it's mother. This album should appeal to everyone into the Canterbury scene, Eclectic Prog and Heavy Prog. This album should also appeal to those who want some good music for a party with friends and family.

Although not a classic, it is a good album and a definite download and this year's Christmas come early.

Four stars from me.

In theory i should really like this record.Hammond organ,mellotron, a vintage seventies feel to their music.The cover art is pretty amazing by Travis Smith.I was thinking that maybe these guys from Norway would be like another WOBBLER.Well...the things i like are the mellotron, and the drumming is incredible.I don't like the vocals, that often seem strained.The lyrics are pretty brutal at times.There is enough here though to give it 3 stars,but nothing more in my opinion. "End of Days" opens with those fantastic drum rolls as mellotron comes in.The hammond to follow is great,and the guitar solo sounds really good,were rocking now!Vocals come in,and heavy riffs follow.Great opener,but the vocals kind of ruin it for me."Coward" opens in a similar fashion with some great drumming ,followed by some weak vocals.The prolonged instrumental section is a highlight on this record."Voyage of the No Brain Discovery" has some brutal lyrics,like "Your face a laxative pill,got to do number two,Goofey's a shining intellectual;that's compared with you."The instrumental work is good though."Path of Sorrow" is one of my favourites on this record.I especially like the female vocal melody later in the song,followed by a WOBBLER like soundscape."Penny is a Slut Machine" has again the kind of lyrics that are immature,but the drums are amazing as well as the organ play."Feel.Melt.Release.Escape" has some great sounding drums with mellotron,creating an awesome sound!Unfortunately it only lasts a minute,and the rest is mediocre."O" has some wonderful mellotron after 4 minutes."The Anti-Depressive Delivery" is another really good song.It's hard and heavy.Organ and vocals come and go.Some excellent bass work and the mellotron is back!"Bones & Money" doesn't feel like it belongs at all.It's great though,a 15 minute epic,beginning with 2 minutes of piano melodies.Next comes a seventies, KANSAS like soundscape.This is a killer track that is so unlike the rest of the album.Vocals don't do the song any justice though. 3 stars.