FANTASY

A very rare case, if not the only one, of a band consisting of parents and children.This family matter begins way before the debut of the band, when Mats Bender started writing music, while the lyrics were provided by his wife Ann Jobs.Introirus started in Vansbro in mid-00's, when Mats decided that the current technology could help him present his material in full shape.With him on keyboards, Ann Jobs on vocals, their children Mattias and Johanna on drums and choirs respectively and a few friends on guitars, bass and flutes, Introitus recorded their debut ''Fantasy'' and self-released it in 2007.

Their sound belongs definitely among the contemporary prog bands with a very diverse sound and a variety influences, ranging from Symphonic Rock to folsky passages and from a Heavy Prog instrumental mood to energetic Neo Prog.One can hear elements from bands like SKY ARCHITECT, MAGENTA, MOSTLY AUTUMN, ARENA and NEXUS.Mats' compositions are filled with drama and grandiosity, characterized by the huge synthesizer flights, powerful guitars and a great flexibility between changing climates.But there is also some space for more melancholic atmosphere, often based on a folkier mood with strings, flutes, bagpipes, accordion and synths on the forefront as well as Ann Jobs' warm voice.The five-part 26-min. eponymous opus is certainly the best example of the Introitus' diversity.From the grand symphonic textures with harsichord, piano and organ as the leaders and the somber folsky passages to the Neo-like floating synth soundscapes and the dynamic guitar-dominated grooves, this arrangement contains all the band's ideas and varied influences but also the evident talent of Mats Bender in composition.The absence of a specific direction though is mostly a problem, the huge amount of different sounds sometimes confuses the listener than trully sets him in the mood, while a couple of tracks are really hard to stick into your mind.However there is a sense around that this band is able to write some trully masterful material.

A nice first step by this family-band with some great ideas here and there and an album close to being representitive of what modern prog is all about.''Fantasy'' was re-released by Progress Records in 2011 and it is quite easy to be purchased.Warmly recommended, this is a band to keep an eye on.