QUANTUM

Planet X's new album, Quantum, is an excellent powerhouse of fusion-prog-metal that equals their previous album Moonbabies. It sounds heavy, futuristic, powerful, and fascinating. Odd-time rhythms propelled by the drumming colossus Virgil Donati form the basis for this album, along with Derek Sherinian's ever present keyboard expertise and Brett Garsed playing most of the guitars, with Allan Holdsworth playing on two tracks with his trademark unique tone and legato madness. The opening track Alien Hip-Hop starts with a short - barely ten seconds - orchestral introduction which at first listen seems genuinely pointless, a complete non-sequiter - but that's fine. It adds to the overall strangeness of this album, and is short enough to be unobtrusive. Also, when the rolling, chugging rhythm crashes in afterward it has more impact. You then have mysterious keyboard chords syncopated over a fairly heavy syncopated metal rhythm, which sets the tone more appropriately for the album. The usual Planet X trademarks unfold: Crazy odd time signatures, unsettling scales, and heavy sections that just slam you in the face with strange rhythms, along with the obligatory stratospheric solos from all involved. The insanity is not quite as rampant as on Moonbabies - three of these songs even stay in 4/4 for a substantial amount of time - but this does not detract from the music. Brett Garsed's guitar solos are wonderful; soulful, yet intruiging - he might not be doing the no-holds-barred shredding that Tony Macalpine espoused on the previous albums - but he's not exactly sticking to pentatonics either. His remarkable ability to slide into outside tonalities and make it sound completely effortless and fitting with the music is showcased here, along with his formidable chops - this is a Planet X album, after all. Holdsworth is equally unique and ferocious, but he only plays two solos on this album, as well as the strange rhythm chords on "Desert Girl".

An excellent album, and a worthy successor to Moonbabies. If you like Planet X, chances are you will get this anyway. If you don't, check out the samples online and see what you make of it. You might discover a new and fascinating band.