KAZMOR EL PRISIONERO

Even if extended details about what Equilibrio Vital were doing at the time of their first album are scarce, they had to be among the popular Rock bands of the country, as suggested by the fact they were among the participants on a tribute/documentary film about Venezuelan Rock bands, captured in December 1983, including fellow progsters Tempano, also Resistencia and La Misma Gente.The following year they released their sophomore effort ''Kazmor el prisionero'' on Color, more or less we deal with the same line-up as on the previous album plus Trina Noguera, who was hired as a dancer and backing vocalist.

''Kazmor el prisionero'' displays all the good and bads of the first album, this time though Equilibrio Vital sound a bit more confused, we can't accuse them of course, when trying to play Prog/Art Rock and the calendar says it's year 1984.Nine original compositions in here and a few of them are practically hot and flaming Hard Rock, performed on guitars and synthesizer and featuring some extra flute soloing, which still reminds of JETHRO TULL, but do not expect something close to Prog Rock.Alternating, irritating and occasionally high-pitched male and female vocals and explosive electric atmospheres, but the overall sound hasn't aged well.Longer pieces are more experimental, if I could use this word, surfacing the progressive qualities of the previous work in a consistent basis, the guitars are still following a hard and fiery approach, but the arrangements showcase some complex ideas with good vocal lines and great guitar solos, sometimes flavored by nice flute work.Keyboards are reduced to minimum and that's not a positive factor, the band sounds a bit sterile at moments, not helped by the period, mediocre production, the music though is decent, even if the Hard Rock elements prevail over the proggier sections.

Mediocre Hard Prog and not as good as the eponymous debut.Too melodramatic and harsh with the progressive moments being rather reduced.Extremely expensive original LP, CD reissue out on Musea.