MR ZINGELMANN

This is a quite nice first demo/promo release from a band focusing in doing only carefully constructed studio albums. Compositions and arrangements are mostly very good, singing is slightly cautious, but you hear worse tryouts in the early 1970's continental European underground prog gems easily. Rush is certainly some kind of influence and association, though their unique style is not clearly copied here, and there are many quite pleasant accessible musical elements found. The sounds aren't probably as professional as intended, but my half deaf ears don't notice any big faults in them. Players are also evidently very good. I first had a dilemma how should I approach this record. Maybe the "Me & My Pacemaker" was the most irritating track here (whispered death metal vocals?). There is however much very pleasant melodies with more intelligent approach than normal rock group could produce for the markets with commercial approach. And some tracks like "The Meaning of Life (Maybe)" have been done very carefully containing quite neat rhythmic solutions. Listening the album trough with one track exclusion was a very positive experience, so if you like the other albums of the band, try hunt this one down too.