SECOND LIFE SYNDROME

I really liked their debut album "Out of Myself". This release will hold several really good songs like "Volte-Face". A great metal song. It combines some "Dream Theater" as well as "Opeth" influences (especially during the growling part of the vocals, of course). Ignoring this would not be fair.

The soft and more "Riverside" oriented "Conceiving You" is just an apetizer for the epic song of this album. "Second Life Syndrome". It has some "The Same River" feeling. But harder. Lots of great guitar of course, and a fantastic beat throughout more than fifteen minutes. A true prog metal anthem.

This feeling is fully confirmed during "Artificial Smile". Pure violence but with little feeling (at least ot my ears). I far much prefer the style of "I Turned You Down". Spacey and quiet vocals, beautiful guitar sounds, and a great beat. Melodic, inspired. One of the very good song of this album.

Well, actually there will some other ones. The opening section for "Reality Dream II" is just fantastic. One is surrounded by these extremely aggressive riffs and at the same time one can only succomb to the charming guitar notes from Piotr. I have seen them live two years ago and even if it was a bit too metal-oriented I have to say that these young lads were quite a sensation. They are back again again in December (at the Spirit of 66 of course) and I will probably get there again. "Reality" is another highlight.

The second epic almost start as a spacey song. But it is only during the initial phase of the song. After two minutes, we are confronted again with these wild and so powerful riffs. Hypnotic, heavy but with such a feeling...A great guitar break enters the scene during the finale. Again, it is brilliant... and about time because this long song is a bit too much of the same to my ears.

"Before" reverts into a more symphonic territory. Great melody, ambient music, strong keyboards and as usal a wonderful guitar work. The tempo of the song will accelerate for the finale which will bring us again on the heavy side of "Riverside" music.

This album is definitely to be categorized (without wanting to "insult") into the true metal genre. If their first album was more atmospherical, with some "Porcupine Tree" influence at times; this one is truely at the heavy side of the musical spectre.

Three stars.

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