DWELLERS OF THE DEEP

Finally, the new album by Wobbler is out. The revival of the Symphonic prog rock started in the 90s in Scandinavia wih Landberk, Anglagard, Par Lindh and Anekdoten, presenting a style that combined the most English/Italian vein of 70s symphonic prog rock with somber/desolated and folk passages, and with good doses of experimentation. Of all those bands, I think that Wobbler is the one that has best managed to incarnate this spirit, and the one I enjoy the most. So, what do we have here?

By the banks (9.5/10) - A mini epic that seems a lost theme from their previous album, From Silence to Somewhere, and that serves as a perfect bridge between the two works. I love the first half, but there are some moments of the second one that I find little disjoined.

Five rooms (10/10) - If Wobbler does something good, is to be heavy whithout forgetting the melody. Here, all the song builds a crescendo towards the great finale. This track is a masterpiece itself and it has that Canterbury organ that I love so much.

Naiad dreams (6/10) - This one is a miss for me. It is beautiful, no doubt, but I expected something more like Rendered in Shades of green.

Merry macabre (9/10) - A very good epic that starts with a mellow but tense piano and builds up a brlliant and complex palette of sounds. So much influences here, from Renaissance, Yes (especially Wakeman) to Gentle Giant. Check the ending please. Amazing.

Overall, a nearly perfect album that does not reach the heights of their previous one, but that will be in the top 5 of albums of the year for sure. Highly recommended.