GOES TO THE COLLÉGIALE

Formed in 2000 in the small city of Belgium Soignies and named after a local medieval hero, Madelgaire started as a four-piece band with singer/drummer Pascal Rocteur, keyboardist Patrice Chalon, bassist Christian Vanderwhale and guitarist Stephane Letertre.A few month later they were joined by a second guitarist, Dominique Lossignol, and this line-up led the band to the production of a demo entitled ''...Goes to the Collegiale'' in 2002.

Madelgaire's proposal is nothing less than rich and well-crafted Neo/Symphonic Progressive Rock in the vein of AMANDA, SEVEN REIZH or ARENA and the opening ''Vae Victis'' contains some good quality music.Bombastic atmospheres led by grandiose keyboards and dramatic guitar work and solos along with some softer Neo-Proggish grooves but always adventurous and intricate in a nice instrumental introduction.''Mad-el-Gher'', actually this is the band's name, could not have contained anything other than keyboard-based medieval tunes next to some prog good breaks and the overall sound is like listening to MINIMUM VITAL.''Gimme a Light'' is the epic of this demo, clocking at 11 minutes and opening with a light piano-driven jazzy section, before turning into a Neo-Prog manner with good keyboard/organ and guitar work along with the vocal lines of Pascal Rocteur, the result is close to the style of DEYSS.The short closer ''Rackham-das-Röte'' is another instrumental piece of dramatic slightly-symphonic Progressive Rock with great guitar work and some orchestral keyboards, quite nice.

This demo seems like a good sample of what Madelgaire were capable of.Slightly theatrical and always passionate, the performance is satisfying and if a copy ever come before your eyes, just grab it.Warmly recommended.