TARDIGRADE

3.5 stars. It's over 74 minutes long and it's a concept album. Ok one more strike and your out. Haha. Well I know it's all about the music and this is really well done. Sort of in the style of SPOCK'S BEARD and THE FLOWER KINGS as we get some very prominant bass and bombast throughout. There is sampled mellotron here as well, and the keyboards are all over this album. Vocals are ok.

"Suddenly The Rain" opens with organ, guitar and heavy drums as they seem to throw everything at us but the kitchen sink. It settles with deep bass and vocals.The bass is huge. A calm with acoustic guitar and vocals 3 1/2 minutes in. It kicks back in with some scary bass.Themes are repeated. Nice guitar 5 minutes in. Great sound 11 minutes in. "Tardigrade" is uptempo with some monster bass and keyboard work. Vocals come in and guitar. Good guitar solo before 3 minutes. "The Chosen One" features reserved vocals and acoustic guitar early. Mellotron before a minute. It changes to an uptempo melody before 2 minutes, very SPOCK'S BEARD-like. Some excellent organ follows. Vocals before 4 1/2 minutes. An explosion ends it. "Moon Mountain" features both acoustic and electric guitars. "As The River Runs" is darker with processed vocals until it changes a minute in. Drums, piano and mellotron before 2 minutes. Vocals a minute later as mellotron flows and bass throbs slowly. I like the piano after 4 minutes. The tempo continues to shift to the end. Killer sound before 9 minutes.

"Your Future" is a 29 second interlude of processed vocals. "Strawberry Jam" is an uptempo instrumental led by drums and keys before the guitar takes over. "Circle's End" features acoustic guitar and reserved vocals with mellotron. "Brother Where You Bound ?" is the over 26 minute epic. I do think this is the best song on here.The bass is chunky and the organ runs are powerful. Spacey synths almost sound like theremin 6 1/2 minutes in. Aggressive guitar after 9 minutes with synths and mellotron as bass shakes the foundations. A calm with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals before 12 minutes. Kicks back in a minute later. The bass and organ are outstanding.The sound before 17 minutes and before 18 1/2 minutes are my favourite parts, very Swedish sounding. Nice guitar solo after 25 minutes as we get a big finish. "Beautiful New Day" is simply strummed guitar and vocals.

The bass is by far the most appealing thing about this album. Lots to like though, but at over 74 minutes there's lots to be indifferent about as well.