EXCAVATIONS OF THE MIND

We are fortunate that this Dutch band is into Progressive Rock because with their good looks and abundant talent they would be a hit in the commercial world of Rock or Pop. They engineered, mixed, mastered and produced this themselves and did a great job overall. They spent about 2 years making this album which is a concept record that delves into the dark and disturbing psyche of a mentally troubled man.

The album starts with the almost 20 minute suite called "Deep Chasm" that is divided into four sections. Each track blends into the next. "Deep Chasm Part I" is an instrumental that opens with some majestic mellotron.The music kicks in after a minute with lots of piano and fat bass lines.The tempo shifts often.The organ and guitar are prominant late as it blends into "Deep Chasm Part II". Vocals arrive right away in this mid-paced, catchy track. Mellotron before 1 1/2 minutes. It picks up after 3 minutes as we get a great sounding and uptempo instrumental section. It settles back before 5 1/2 minutes with lots of piano late as it blends into "Deep Chasm Part III". The final section of this suite (Part IV) features the return of vocals as the chorus from Part II is reprised. Spoken words a minute in. Some ripping organ after 3 minutes then it settles with guitar. It picks back up before 5 minutes and becomes pretty intense.

"The Grey Legend" has this good heavy soundscape as the organ comes in with power. Vocals before 2 minutes as it settles. Mellotron follows and returns again after 3 1/2 minutes then it picks up with guitar, drums and chunky bass. Nice. It settles back after 5 minutes with vocals then picks back up after 7 minutes when the vocals stop. It's heavier 9 1/2 minutes in. "Russian Wisdom" is catchy and uptempo to start. It settles with vocals after 1 1/2 minutes then picks up a minute later as the tempo continues to change. Good song. "Excavations Of The Mind" has lots of piano early on and it gets fuller a minute in. Organ 2 1/2 minutes in. A calm with strummed guitar 3 minutes in and vocals follow. It kicks in at 4 1/2 minutes then settles back again. So good. Great sound 10 minutes in when the guitar starts to solo over top to the end. "Gyrocopter" opens with keyboards as drums and bass join in. The guitar starts to solo. Spoken words before 2 minutes then the organ comes screaming in.

This has to be considered as a top five candidate for 2010, it's that good.