KALEVALA - A FINNISH PROGRESSIVE ROCK EPIC

A collection of 31 songs from 31 bands all asked to contribute songs toward the theme of the Finnish folk tale, "Kalevala." The Colossus Magazine-Musea Records collaborative effort asked the bands to try composing and playing their contributions on 1970s period instruments. The results are formidable. Of the 31 songs, I rate no less than 13 of them with 5 stars, proclaiming them as masterpieces of progressive rock, another 15 earn 4 stars, with the remaining three still deserving of 3 stars as "good" contributions to progressive rock music.

5 stars: OVERHEAD, SIMON SAYS, SINKADUS, MOONGARDEN, IL CASTELLO DI ATLANTE, CLEARLIGHT, ORCHARD, SCARLET THREAD, MAD CRAYON, MUSEO ROSENBACH, GROOVECTOR, CAFEINE, and MIKKO UUSI-OUKARI & MIKKO VAARALA.

4 stars: HAIKARA, MAGENTA, SUBMARINE SILENCE, METAPHOR, GREENWALL, REVELATION, LEVIATHAN, MALIBRAN, SOFIA BACCINI, ELEGANT SIMPLICITY, CANTINA SOCIALE, GRAND STAND, AARDVARK, THONK, and WHOBODIES.

3 stars: QADESH, GERMINALE, and RANDONE & TEMORE.

An excellent addition to any prog lovers music collection! Highly recommended.