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Ysma - Fourth Wall CD (album) cover

FOURTH WALL

Ysma

 

Heavy Prog

3.85 | 10 ratings

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Meltdowner
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars This year sees the second album from the German instrumental (except for some spoken phrases on Jester) Heavy band YSMA, called Fourth Wall. This one is quite interesting, it has a very gentle nature and also the occasional and sometimes unpredictable heavier side.

It starts with 'Limelight', a dark and haunting piano piece with acoustic guitar and then enters the electric piano to start 'Four Seconds West'. This one shows a nice contrast between Metal and acoustic guitar with beautiful piano. It also has a reference to Gentle Giant near the end and some very skillful bass playing.

'Thelema' is an organ-led track, featuring some heavy dueling with distorted guitar. The whole song kind of reminds me of modern RPI.

'Sun' is a guitar-led song divided in two parts with a very interesting construction: lots of guitar tracks and emotive acoustic guitar playing but also has soft flute and gentle piano. It reminds me of PFM and classic Genesis.

'A Beaver's Tale' is more about the piano, shifting again between heavy and soft moments, although it also has great guitar solos.

'Jester' is a really interesting and synchronized bass guitar and percussion display, initially with an ethereal sounding of the guitars and keyboards and then sudden heavy bursts with vintage organ. It finishes with a very nice and uplifting acoustic guitar and piano piece.

'Pseudopolis' is my least favourite track: most of it is slow math rock that sounds stale and leaves me cold, but at least the last minutes seem more interesting with a bass and lazy electric guitar solos. The ending is also funny, but you better see it for yourself.

Despite this album being very good, I don't consider it a masterpiece, but I believe they can make something even greater in the future.

4 stars

Meltdowner | 4/5 |

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