HOLY LAMB

Any metal influence was now history and ''Salt Of The Earth'' presents a band heavily influenced by CAMEL, GENESIS, MARILLION and PINK FLOYD.''Whoever Designed This Game'' is characterized by its strong guitar work and the great sound twists in a typical Neo Prog mood along with excellent vocals, while ''The Lingering Dream'' is nice spacey instrumental track with hypnotic piano all the way and a fine FLOYD-ian ending solo.The 12-min. ''My Star Untouchable'' sees the band at its best, despite being almost a MARILLION rip-off.Incredible and dramatic guitar workouts, heavy sense of melody on the piano breaks and FISH-like spoken narrations among the great vocals of Aigars Cervinskis picture a composition full of intense emotions and shifting moods.''Rainfall In Your Heart'' is the most original composition by Holy Lamb on this work, having a Fusion-touch on the guitars and a light jazzy piano middle part next to the familiar melodic content.But this style does not fit the band very well I admit.The closing ''The Sea'' clocks at over 16 minutes and offers a nice Symphonic Rock experience with melodic guitars, calm pianos, crystalline female vocals and even a strong organ wash towards the end.Good track but not as compentent as ''My Star Untouchable''.

Well-crafted Progressive Rock with a few highlights to be found, that deserves a better fame.Very good vocals, impressive guitar work and intricate melodies will please the majority of prog listeners, though I can see many of them being turned down by the evident GENESIS and MARILLION influences.Still strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Best tracks: The Plan That Failed Makhtartam & The Low Brotherhood The Meeting Of The Majorminors

The feeling is generally dark-symphonic, with solemn organ, magnificent piano and guitars and even gothic chorus sometimes, but melodies are very clear and beautiful at the same time.

I find reminiscences from bands like VDGG (and the contemporary VDGG influenced VERSUS X), a little bit from KING CRIMSON and many influences from the nostalgic Scandinavian bands (ANGLAGARD or SINKADUS). But despite these obscure references, it isn't an album difficult to listen to, being each track a little symphonic prog gem itself.

Almost 60 minutes with dark and -paradoxically- very luminous music. Really enjoyable, don't miss it.