PROGRESSIVE METAL

2012 was an important year for progressive rock, with the release of a considerable amount of masterpieces, and in the midst of it a sextet British melodic progressive metal / neo-prog with a long (and underappreciated) career launched another album breathtaking as only they can do.

Between 2007 and the last year many things happened in Threshold, and the most striking of these was the departure and death of Mac. A terrible loss for the members and for the fans, but fortunately we have the band went ahead and recruited Damian Wilson, lead singer of his debut Wounded Land and Extinct Instinct, and needless to say that while my first listen did not impress me much, subsequent fazeram I love March of Progress as the masterpieces of the past decade and proves that the band is only to continue in his excellent level of musicality that has made ​​throughout his career.

Damian Wilson seems to be better than never, it seems that fifteen years have passed since the last time he was at the Threshold (and as good as the debut of the band and their top performance in extinction Instinct). Well, on the other members in there muiot what to say except that I have ripped the compliments on my previous reviews. Although I liked the fact that Richard West have "expanded" somewhat their keyboards to use a "church organ" in the closing track The Rubycon.

There is virtually no low point here. The highlights are the great Return of Thought Police (whose lyrics combine perfectly for me before the series of protests that have occurred in large cities here in Brazil), Staring at the Sun, great Colophon, the ballad That's Why We Came (more once Threshold showing that it does not fail in his ballads), Coda and mini-epic The Rubycon.

5 stars, no doubt.

Imagine Savatage combining with Porcupine Tree, City Boy and Uriah Heep and you may just come close to what these guys are all about. Twin guitars and a very strong rhythm section (hats off to bassist Maurizio Lietti who provides some incredible runs when the mood requires it) means that this is an album that hits the spot on so many levels. It is easy to listen to and enjoy from the very first play, and the more attention it gets the more rewards it gives out. It has now got me wondering what the other albums are like, and just how long we may have to wait for the next one! Not for those who really want crunching riffs, as they certainly are no Threshold, but if well-crafted music is what you are after then look no further. www.adramelch.com

This is technical hard rock, with just enough prog influences to keep fans of that genre interested but in many ways this is more complex than even Damian's old outfit Threshold, although not quite as heavy. This is a concept album being played live, although with some added songs that aren't on the studio, but there are some spoken pieces I an attempt to set the scene. It can be played as separate songs, although if possible it is best to sit and listen intently to the double CD in one sitting. This is the version that I have been sent, but I believe that it is also available as a double CD with a DVD, which must be worth seeing. If you want complicated hard rock with more than a touch of prog metal than this is it.

Originally appeared in Feedback #73, Jun 03

They will never be viewed as being progressive by any followers of the UK prog scene as this contains far too many AOR influences, but for all that this isn't a bad album. The press release likens them to Yes, Kansas, Rush, Saga and Dream Theater but to my ears I would argue that although they are different on the vocal front I would have put them more with Journey and Styx, along with the aforementioned So & So's. It is an album that needs to be played a few times to gain the most from it, but it is also accessible first time around and there are some very strong songs. I particularly like the rocker "Stay" which contains not only good guitar riffing and keyboard overlays, but also plenty of melody and very strong vocals with a hook. It may not quite live up to the billing but is an interesting album all the same.

Originally appeared in Feedback #70, Oct 02

This is quite unlike any other album that I have been listening to recently, while at the same time bringing together themes and styles that will be recognisable to many. It is progressive, while at the same time quite definitely hard rock, which means that they fit in the prog metal genre, or do they? This is a very technical band, with extremely complex guitar/keyboard interplay, which means that at times it is possible to imagine that one is listening to some new work by Steve Vai. There is the same fluidity, the same refusal to compromise to any ideals about what the music should sound like, yet at the same time making a lot of sense.

The second track is nearly twelve minutes long (but annoyingly fades out instead of finishing properly), and when Javier Cespedes is singing it is good strong melodic rock but the music switches and twists so that the listener wonders what is going to happen yet. Some songs are more commercial than others, but there is always the sense of expecting the unexpected. Easily one of the best Spanish albums I have heard in a long time.

Originally appeared in Feedback #70, Oct 02

Although covering a similar genre to Threshold this is actually quite a different form as there is a lot of space within the arrangements, and not nearly as much intensity. That's not to say that this album doesn't belt it out as it does, but there are bits and pieces contained within that almost don't feel like they belong to the same band as they take the music in a quite different direction. Renowned prog producer Rob Aubrey has taken control of this, and that must have been a deliberate approach to take a step away from Threshold, and give the music a more prog sound as opposed the more metallic that would have come across if he had used Karl.

Overall this is an enjoyable romp, and I certainly didn't realise that he is such a strong singer. Obviously fans of Threshold are going to be intrigued with this, but if you enjoy any prog metal, especially those that can be lighter in places then this is for you. www.lasersedgegroup.com

Melody is very much the order of the day, and with the lyrics in English the album is extremely accessible. Musically this is a hard rock band that can crank it out with the likes of Threshold or Pain Of Salvation while maintaining the complexity and twists of out and out prog. They can be very heavy indeed, or conversely be musically heavy but having the whole thing lightened by Julie's vocals.

In many ways they are a heavier version of Legend, the much-missed pagan rock band, but with more shape. An album I have enjoyed listening to immensely and although it may be too heavy for some prog fans it is one that I heartily recommend to those who enjoy the mix of prog and metal.

Originally appeared in Feedback #69, Aug 02

Northwinds play doom on a grand scale, and to these sullied ears come across as a mix of Black Sabbath and Quartz. There is a lot of space within the album, and the band has a dreamy Seventies feel. They are not afraid to move away from the riffs to a much gentler and yet very intense style, with an organ that sounds as if started life many years ago.

There is certainly enough riffing to make this album appealing to Sab fans, but it is heavily tempered and the result is an album of class. It is sung mostly in English, although the sixteen minute epic "Entre Chien Loup" is in French

Originally appeared in Feedback #69, Aug 02