W GALERII CZASU

Although formed in Bielsko-Biala, Poland in 1990, Lizard escaped right from the start from the typical Neo Prog sound of the local bands.Singer Damian Bydlinski, guitarist Miroslaw Worek, keyboardist Andrzej Jancza, bassist/guitarist Janusz Tanistra and drummer Mariusz Szulakowski were the original members, who focused on recording the first demo tapes of Lizard and building a cult fame through live appearances.In 1996 the band came to the attention of the Polish label Ars Mundi and the same year they recorded their debut ''W galerii czasu'' (''In the gallery of time'') at the SL Studio in Gdansk, released in 1997.

When you take your name from a KING CRIMSON album, it's impossible not to include some hints of the British legends to your sound.But being a Prog Rock band, developing your style in Poland through the 90's, the Neo/Symphonic Prog vibes are almost impossible not to be part of your music.These two styles led Lizard to their debut, they tried to evoke the sound of COLLAGE or ANNALIST and pass it through a personal filter, which contained the darkness and complexity of KING CRIMSON's offerings.While not fully convincing or moreover cohesive, the result was definitely enganging and quite personal.Echoes of PINK FLOYD, MARILLION and KING CRIMSON are evident throughout the album.Plenty of atmospheric passages and intricate instrumental work, complemented by Bydlinski's theatrical vocals are main elements of Lizard's debut.The keyboard and piano parts are falling fairly into a more symphonic enviroment, but most of the guitar parts are complex and tricky with light jazzy influences and occasional breaks into heavier textures.The music generally is pretty dramatic and sinister with more romantic/atmospheric overtones in particular moments, as the band avoids approaching to melodious themes and prefers to offer rhythmic, dark or atmospheric variations.The long closer ''W krainie szmaragdowego jaszczura'' pretty much defines what Lizard were born to do.Experimental touches, mid-70's GENESIS and even SBB influences in the instrumental and vocal passages, nice and heavy guitar moves and an excellent closing theme, somewhere between PINK FLOYD and MARILLION, with evolving piano and synth lines and a growing guitar sound.

Metal Mind re-released the album in 2003 with some extra material from lives.An intricate mix of Polish Neo Prog and KING CRIMSON-esque Heavy Prog with both good and mediocre moments, but satisfying enough to earn a recommendation.