HEURISTICA

I am not in particular fond of progressive metal which sounds like power metal from Germany or Scandinavia. So Heuristica should not really appeal to me at all. It is like sending a lamb to the slaughter, really.

But I gladly admit that this album is not bad at all. I guess fans of progressive metal which is bordering to power and heavy metal would really enjoy this free download. I would not be surprised if Alhma Mater earn themselves a record deal with a German or another big metal label on the basis of this album. So download this album now while it is free.

The music here is somewhere between prog, power and heavy metal. But it is still pretty progressive. It also have a Spanish feel with some hints of flamenco and Spanish folk music too. The faster stuff here is good, bordering to superb. The inclusion of two power ballads in the year 2009 is........ well.......... smile and say CHEESE !!! None of those ballads are bad though. But I guess most of you will burst into a big ironic grin when confronted with them.

The lyrics are in Spanish and I cannot make any comments. The vocalist is superb and do not shame the band or the music. The rest of the musicians also knows their stuff. The music is guitar based with a rather good solo-guitarist. Yes, you also get this typical power/ heavy metal riffing/chugging too. But the guitarists know what they are doing. The artwork too is superb. I am not a fan of this type of music. But this is a rather good album which I find both good and inoffensive.

Besides of the two power ballads, Alhma Mater stays well clear of the biggest cliches and crimes this power/prog/heavy metal scene is offering us. It is a free download, but I would not had complained too much if I had paid money for this album. I hope to hear more from this band in the future. Alhma Mater is hereby included in my "talents worth following up later" book.

3.5 stars

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