HOLLOW

After so many flattering around "Hollow" I had to run the risk and check it by myself and I may tell you (for the case someone is reading it, which I doubt) that all good talks about this album is meritorious; I became greatly entertained. LITTLE ATLAS, a recently shaped prog act, reached their adulthood with a fine and ripe release, configured like a conceptual album, that will satiate a diversity of musical tastes, from those who prefer heavy and powerful tunes up to the ones who favor soft and catchy melodies. In addition, "Hollow" contains a bit of psychedelics and also fusion spices, neo-prog touches and experimental moods, displaying clearly the multiplicity of band's influences.

The album starts great with the roaring 'Hollow' which left no doubt about band members proficiency and song composing knowledge. It's hard, it's tough, and it's involving; there's a flavor of some 70s heavy rocks but this time with a neat and mature 21st Century approach. Next comes 'Silence', initially serene and agreeable, and later explosive with a blast of guitars, keyboards, drumming and sharp vocals. 'Paranoiac' keeps running the engaging atmosphere this time enriched with exquisite noises counterbalanced by fine guitar chords and enchanting tunes provided by the keyboards. With 'Contumacious' things apparently cool down but the air is filled with some exquisite pattern that grabs the hearer attention. 'Preying' could be dubbed as the cheesiest song in the album, although the tenderness is broken by spoken words and tempered moments; all steadily joyous.

'Orderly' opens album's second half not letting the climate fades; the track maintains the captivating nervousness that exhales from the entire work, while 'Hiding' brings a certain romantic substance emphasized by suave vocals with instrumentation flowing in accordance. 'Stage' rocks around the player and if the hearer feels a certain sleeping desire now it's time to revive. Album's peak is attained with 'Symbiosis', probably the best and most progressive track here; there's an uttered symbiosis of Dream Theater, Yes, Deep Purple and the likes, supplied by half-whispered and half-intense vocals and garnished by luxurious keyboards activity. 'Special' closes the album pleasantly; a very harmonic and melodic short song, nevertheless in consonance with the whole heard before.

All in all, a very impressive and remarkable effort, also surprising and uplifting when one looks for what's being done in the new progressive scenery; thus doubtlessly a fine addition to any prog music shelf.