THREE SEATS BEHIND A TRIANGLE

Originally released in 2006 this, the latest studio album recorded by Polish prog metal band Osada Vida, has been re-released by Metal Mind Productions in expanded form.

A quick glance at the track list and sleeve notes will whet the appetite of all prog fans regardless of preferred genre, as the album is made up of three lengthy suites, book-ended by an intro and outro. The concept is refreshingly obscure, relating to the gulf between the dream and the reality of being an achiever in a chosen field. The lyrics examine how such "dreamers" struggle to fulfil their ambitions (and therefore occupy the "unwanted seat, three seats behind a triangle"), but retain their "passion". The lyrics are in English throughout, the singing at times being rather phonetic.

Each of the three suites (or "seats") is further segmented into three parts, but the music in each is cohesive and contiguous. While the band are rightly classified as prog metal, their music sits at the symphonic end of that spectrum, the apparent influences including bands such as Emerson Lake and Palmer and more recently Arena.

Keyboards player Rafał "R6" Paluszek uses an admirable range of keys, including synthesisers, mellotron and Hammond organ, to create lush soundscapes which form the basis for the tracks. When combined with the often heavy riffing of the guitars, this creates a paradoxically retro yet thoroughly up to date atmosphere. On sections such as "Devotion part 1, (After hours)", Bartek Bereska uses acoustic guitar to lighten things further, while also adding some excellent lead guitar to the same piece. Part 2, "Flying time" which follows is an exquisite instrumental featuring jazz tinged piano. The following "Tension blossoms" shows the band at their hardest, the vocals being spat out as Lukasz Lisiak blasts "You destroy my dreams with your primitivity, you burn my desires with your foolishness".

The despairing nature of the lyrics continues on the first part of the third seat, "Everyday Ltd.", With lines such as "I know what I must do today, the same that tomorrow and yesterday". There is an early Marillion like feel which creeps in here, especially in the strong riff backed by lush keyboard layers. This frustration reaches "Boiling point" on the following instrumental section, an organ fuelled cacophony of riffing. The original album closes with a stand alone track "The rebirth of passion", which ties things together perfectly.

The Metal Minds 2008 re-release includes two additional tracks recorded specially for this version. The first of these, "In(s) thru mental" is indeed an instrumental. It focuses on the improvisational but melodic aspects of the band, the riffs being softer while remaining compulsive. The second new song is ".. and don't shut the door", which also emphasises the melodic side of the band's music while featuring some incisive synth runs and extended guitar soloing.

In all, a superb album from Osada Vida, which demonstrates once again how Poland is currently at the forefront of melodic prog metal. This release has been put together with great care both in terms of the content and the presentation. Recommended.

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