Amon Ra (Germany): Neo Prog

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Great find here by psarros of the Neo team  
Every so often here comes something out of the blue that is full of exiting sounds and virile spirit & that pleases the soul, the ear and the inner self. Amon Ra is one of those rare groups that have managed to reverently invoke the past as well as create the future with their complex progressive rock music.
Their self-produced Precarious Balance presents a sound full of dynamic aural exploration, wild guitar explosives amidst full breadth keyboards and wonderful vocals. This is what prog music should be: sophisticated, complex, intuitive, classical, new, dramatic, expansive and fun!!

Amon Ra's roots can be traced around 1990 in Bamberg, Germany and the Uriah Heep/Deep Purple cover band "Friday the 13th".After the arrival of drummer Lothar Hermann in 1993 the band changed the sound into a more progressive direction, leading to the departure of singer Elmar Pfister. In a clever move the rest of the crew hired German-American vocalist Scott Balaban and a new era begun for the band. Finally in 1998 the long-awaited debut of the band ''Precarious Balance'' saw the light both as a private press and as a release on Treasure Records (though with different covers).

This from rateyourmusic.com: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/amon_ra/precarious_balance/

"Amon Ra played an elaborate and passionate Progressive Rock in the vein of SAGA, MYSTERY and PALLAS with some nice melodies and great rhyhmic parts throughout. Anyone expecting a rather straightforward album should be informed that all tracks contain plenty of changing climates between smooth and heavier moments with an overall accesible feeling but also some really artistic orchestrations. The sound of Amon Ra is attractive and dynamic, characterized by a very good production and based on the extensive atmospheric synths of Dierk Neldner, his nice piano paces and the fantastic guitar work of Thomas Wenzel with both fascinating melodic and groovy passages. The tracks are mostly long with good arrangements and a nice balance between instrumental material and vocal deliveries. As expected the voice of Scott Balaban is far from accented, a great vocalist having a typical American voice with a high range. The style swirls arouns the Heavy/Neo Prog field with some decent symphonic leanings here and there and the more powerful and rich moments are among the highlights of the album.
The band played live with acts and artists such as John Wetton, Versus X and Saga, but these were followed by several line-up changes, the most important of which was the departure of original guitarist Thomas Wenzel. While the band seemed to be active as for 2005, nothing have been heard around them since then.
''Precarious Balance'' is an album of measured, well-crafted Heavy Prog with obvious Neo and Symphonic Prog leanings, highlighted by the great guitar work and the very nice arrangements. Strongly recommended."

Just one album (though the band are apparently still going):

Precarious Balance (1998):

1. In the Name of RA (7:29)
2. Two Suns (6:30)
3. The Way (7:43)
4. The Forest (1:13)
5. Waterfall (5:56)
6. The Story of Beren and Luthien (9:49)
7. Dragonwall (6:48)
8. Search Your Soul (8:37)
9. Stay (8:15)
10. Illu-Vata (11:29) 

Total Time 1:03:53

- Scott Balaban / lead and backing vocals
- Thomas Wenzel / guitar, backing vocals
- Sebastian Amberger / bass
- Dierk Neldner / keyboards
- Lothar Hermann / drums, backing vocals
- Dietmar Foth / additional guitar On 'The Way'

Current line up: 
- Heiko Kellner / vocals
- Andreas Rußwurm / guitar
- Gerry Boiciuc / bass
- Dierk Neldner / keyboards
- Lothar Hermann / drums

http://www.amonra.de/
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/newyear.html#amonra

Or as a playlist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxke-G-qFL0&playnext=1&list=PL4AA8C4665F3F4F44&feature=results_main

Already in Neo's thread, so no further action necessary - just sit back and enjoy this fantastic album!!!  

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yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5820	Topic: Amon Ra (Germany): Neo Prog Posted: January 13 2013 at 15:20
	Great find here by psarros of the Neo team Every so often here comes something out of the blue that is full of exiting sounds and virile spirit & that pleases the soul, the ear and the inner self. Amon Ra is one of those rare groups that have managed to reverently invoke the past as well as create the future with their complex progressive rock music. Their self-produced Precarious Balance presents a sound full of dynamic aural exploration, wild guitar explosives amidst full breadth keyboards and wonderful vocals. This is what prog music should be: sophisticated, complex, intuitive, classical, new, dramatic, expansive and fun!! Amon Ra's roots can be traced around 1990 in Bamberg, Germany and the Uriah Heep/Deep Purple cover band "Friday the 13th".After the arrival of drummer Lothar Hermann in 1993 the band changed the sound into a more progressive direction, leading to the departure of singer Elmar Pfister. In a clever move the rest of the crew hired German-American vocalist Scott Balaban and a new era begun for the band. Finally in 1998 the long-awaited debut of the band ''Precarious Balance'' saw the light both as a private press and as a release on Treasure Records (though with different covers). This from rateyourmusic.com: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/amon_ra/precarious_balance/ "Amon Ra played an elaborate and passionate Progressive Rock in the vein of SAGA, MYSTERY and PALLAS with some nice melodies and great rhyhmic parts throughout. Anyone expecting a rather straightforward album should be informed that all tracks contain plenty of changing climates between smooth and heavier moments with an overall accesible feeling but also some really artistic orchestrations. The sound of Amon Ra is attractive and dynamic, characterized by a very good production and based on the extensive atmospheric synths of Dierk Neldner, his nice piano paces and the fantastic guitar work of Thomas Wenzel with both fascinating melodic and groovy passages. The tracks are mostly long with good arrangements and a nice balance between instrumental material and vocal deliveries. As expected the voice of Scott Balaban is far from accented, a great vocalist having a typical American voice with a high range. The style swirls arouns the Heavy/Neo Prog field with some decent symphonic leanings here and there and the more powerful and rich moments are among the highlights of the album. The band played live with acts and artists such as John Wetton, Versus X and Saga, but these were followed by several line-up changes, the most important of which was the departure of original guitarist Thomas Wenzel. While the band seemed to be active as for 2005, nothing have been heard around them since then. ''Precarious Balance'' is an album of measured, well-crafted Heavy Prog with obvious Neo and Symphonic Prog leanings, highlighted by the great guitar work and the very nice arrangements. Strongly recommended." Just one album (though the band are apparently still going): Precarious Balance (1998): 1. In the Name of RA (7:29) 2. Two Suns (6:30) 3. The Way (7:43) 4. The Forest (1:13) 5. Waterfall (5:56) 6. The Story of Beren and Luthien (9:49) 7. Dragonwall (6:48) 8. Search Your Soul (8:37) 9. Stay (8:15) 10. Illu-Vata (11:29) Total Time 1:03:53 - Scott Balaban / lead and backing vocals - Thomas Wenzel / guitar, backing vocals - Sebastian Amberger / bass - Dierk Neldner / keyboards - Lothar Hermann / drums, backing vocals - Dietmar Foth / additional guitar On 'The Way' Current line up: - Heiko Kellner / vocals - Andreas Rußwurm / guitar - Gerry Boiciuc / bass - Dierk Neldner / keyboards - Lothar Hermann / drums http://www.amonra.de/ http://www.dprp.net/reviews/newyear.html#amonra Or as a playlist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxke-G-qFL0&playnext=1&list=PL4AA8C4665F3F4F44&feature=results_main Already in Neo's thread, so no further action necessary - just sit back and enjoy this fantastic album!!!

apps79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 15 2007 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 1551	Posted: January 13 2013 at 15:43
	this review on rym is actually mine as well, I own a good CDR copy of the album and listened to it some 2-3 months ago, great stuff for both fans of the Heavy and Neo Prog genres!
	When the power of love overcomes the love of power,the world will know peace... listen to www.justincaseradio.com , the first ever Greek Progressive Rock radio

DamoXt7942 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams Joined: October 15 2008 Location: Okayama, Japan Status: Offline Points: 17459	Posted: January 13 2013 at 18:57
	Another thumbs-up from me (and cleared for addition to Neo). Edited by DamoXt7942 - January 13 2013 at 19:44


yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5820	Posted: January 14 2013 at 05:36
	Cleared within 6½ hours of the suggestion first being posted! Go team Neo!!

seventhsojourn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006	Posted: January 14 2013 at 05:53
	Indeed, fantastic work by the Neo Team! Already ordered my copy of the CD.

Aragon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2010 Status: Offline Points: 186	Posted: January 23 2013 at 17:19
	Cool...that's neoprog for sure!!! Thx to addiction it to this subgenre!!! Edited by Aragon - January 23 2013 at 17:20
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