SUN CAGED

My personal favorites are "Shades of Hades" and "The 8 Auspicious Symbols" (the last 8 tracks on this album which are actually a 24 minute song). Every song---and I mean every---on this album is a master work. I especially love how the vocalist pieces together the lyrics----just expert in every sense of the word. I'm also a big fan of the keyboards, especially in track "Pareidolized".

I have read some reviews that claim that the music in the first few tracks is jumbled or incoherent, but I am not quite sure what they mean. This is a progressive metal album, and if the heaviness is too much (though it isn't that heavy), I suggest one should switch genres. The first track, "Seamripper" features some amazing drum work that could be a little overbearing, but the melody of the music and the vocals easily balances this. As it is, this album features a myriad of tempo changes, harmonizing vocals, crunching guitars as well as well-done solos, audible rhythmic bass, and keyboards that provide an amazing atmosphere and vibe. Add to this a brainy theme of using scientific terms to discuss human mortality and depravity, and you have an album that deserves some recognition.

"Seam Ripper (& The Blanket Statement)" is experimental and mellow to start. Like you want to turn it up, then bang ! That loud and noisy sound kicks in. It does level out quickly though with vocals coming in after 1 1/2 minutes.This reminds me of ENCHANT only a little heavier.

"Tip-Toe The Fault-Line" is heavy to start and vocals come in around a minute as it settles back.The riffs kick back in though. Drums lead then synths after 3 1/2 minutes when the vocals stop. Guitar is next then the vocals return.

"Ashes To Ear" opens with piano then a nice crunchy sound comes in.Vocals follow then a guitar solo 3 minutes in followed by piano.Vocals are back.

"Shades Of Hades" is heavy with processed vocals early. A bass / drum solo before 2 minutes then the vocals return with a full sound. "Reductio Ad Absurdum" is a mellow ENCHANT-like song. "On Again / Off Again" kicks in right away and vocals and piano arrive before a minute.

"Lotus" is the one song that i really enjoy. Reserved vocals early and I really like when the sound gets fuller. Atmosphere ends it. "Parlidolized (The Ocean In The Shell)" is laid back with vocals a minute in. Heaviness comes and goes.The relaxed guitar solo around 4 1/2 minutes is good.

The next five short tracks blend into one another until we get to the closer "Let It Wash Away (The Lotus Effect)". Piano and vocals to start.It picks up before a minute and does get a little heavier later.

I'm thankful to have their first two albums but this one unfortunately doesn't measure up.

Thus I waited with (...somewhat prolonged) anticipation as to how The Lotus Effect could better such a stirling effort. It was certainly worth the wait. Sun Caged stick within the same vein as Artemesia, yet still manage to push the boundaries further musically.

Running at just over 72 mins the album certainly gives you your moneys worth. The album contains 14 tracks the first 7 tracks are pretty much stand alone. The final 7 form an epic suite entitled the 8 Auspicious Symbols (although there are only 7 tracks!?).

The material forming this suite on its own make this album a worthwhile purchase, however the first half also contains a few gems. For me 'Tip Toe the Fault Line' and 'On Again/Off Again' particularly stood out; then again I am a sucker for guitar/keys duels. 'Ashes to Ear' and 'Lotus' also provide softer, more melodic moments.

Sun Caged certainly are a band that deserve much more recognition and a place amongst the prog metal elite. Judge for yourself... 5/5

"Lyre's Harmony" opens with the sound of a bird screaming then flying away. Then we get pummeled with riffs. A calm when the reserved vocals arrive.The guitar comes grinding in as drums pound. It gets pretty heavy before 2 minutes. An avalanche of riffs come raining down 5 minutes in followed by a ripping guitar solo. "A Fair Trade" opens with a great heavy sound. Vocals and riffs follow. Very melodic and the vocals are so accessible. Piano comes in. The guitar sounds so clean and clear. "Unborn" opens with a crushing soundscape until vocals arrive before a minute. Fast and heavy after 3 minutes. A Tipton-like guitar solo after 4 minutes. Brutally heavy like ZERO HOUR as a vocal melody comes in. Awesome ! "Bloodlines" opens with piano which is quickly steam rolled by heavy riffs. Great sound ! Vocals 2 minutes in with a lighter sound. It sounds like a stampede before 4 minutes. Some really good contrasts in this one. Bone crushingly heavy 6 1/2 minutes in followed by organ 7 minutes in. Vocals are back. "Painted Eyes" features more heaviness, riffs and great vocals. This is the shortest track.

"Engelbert The Inchworm" opens with a silly melody that is quickly stomped to death by these stuttered riffs. They continue until it calms down after a minute. It gets very powerful again. Check out the guitar. This instrumental has to be heard to be believed ! Some guest growls to end it. "Afraid To Fly" is really the first mellow song although it does get a little more passionate a minute in when the vocals arrive. An uplifting guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes. "Dialogue" sounds beautiful to open until bass then heaviness comes crashing in. A nice heavy undercurrent to this one. "Departing Words" opens with more metal flying around. Organ and pounding drums arrive as the vocals continue to impress. "Doldrums" opens with the sound of a boat in the water. Synths wash in. Piano and vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. It gets more powerful after 3 minutes. Even heavier before 5 minutes. Scorching guitar 6 minutes in before a calm a minute later as we hear the water like in the beginning.

I really think ENCHANT fans will like this one even though at times it's like 10 times heavier than that band. The fact is that the lighter sections are very ENCHANT-like. I still prefer their previous release to this one, but this album is highly recommended to those into melodic Metal.

"Sedation" opens with quite the instrumental display. A calm a minute in as those great vocals follow. Killer synths before 3 minutes and ripping guitar after 5 minutes. Heavy riffs end it. "Sun Caged" opens with heavy riffs and they come and go throughout. Complex guitar work in this one. Vocals a minute in. These themes are repeated. Fantastic song ! Piano 4 minutes in. Love the vocals before 6 minutes. "Home" opens with acoustic guitar as reserved vocals come in to this pastoral intro. Synths wash beautifully until all is blown away by a scream and heavy riffs. It's so uplifting 5 minutes in. "Soil" opens with sampled spoken words before the complexity arrives and vocals that recall PSYCHOTIC WALTZ. Check out the guitar ! It then settles down as vocals seem to soar and it's all so tranquil. Heaviness stomps all over that as the contrast continues.

"Hollow" opens with piano as a full sound with vocals arrives quickly. This sounds so good, especially the vocals. "Closing In" features piano early before they hit us with some heaviness before a minute that comes and goes. Great solid sound as he sings his heart out. "The Eighth Day" opens with synths as riffs and vocals join in. Love the synths before 4 1/2 minutes. Heavy riffs a minute later to end it. "Secrets Of Flight" opens with some chunky bass and great guitar work. Heavy stuff. It gets kind of spacey before 6 minutes. More complexity and heaviness 8 minutes in. "Unchanging" opens with piano before reserved vocals come in. It gets fuller and the vocals more passionate.

A must have for Metal fans out there. Almost a perfect debut.

Examples of the improved compositions are Bloodlines and Doldrums to me which are extremely nice songs that weren't yet to be found on their debut album. So it's always good to detect improvement, I hope the continuity will be better for the future. Then this will be a leading prog metal band for The Netherlands I believe.

Due to improvement compared with their first release I give this 4 stars as well but it's actually 4.25.