SUICIETY

It took four years to Greek musician and composer Nikitas Kissonas to record and release his second album - lot of time in the world where myriads of Genesis copycats release new album every few months. But what an improvement!

I was skeptical before listening to his debut in 2011 since it was mostly recorded by himself and as rule use of one artist's multilayer-technology can kill life even in best material. Fortunately it didn't happen on "The Fall of Bliss" even if one can hear some expectable limitations there. Biggest (and one of the greatest) surprises here on "Suiciety" is Methexis isn't one-man-band anymore! If it wouldn't be enough, Kissonas (who plays only guitars here) has string and brass sections on some songs besides of keyboardist,bassist,drummer and vocalist. Real luxury!

From very first seconds one can hear full-bodied band playing - and all music sounds more lively and impressive. And music itself is quite different here. For sure,it still same eclectic mix of half a century progressive rock legacy, but all album is more mature, better balanced less screaming (for good) and demonstrates more attention to composition and all details.

From the first look on cover art I wasn't surprised at all - European politics and economics is one of my areas of interest and perfectly knowing what happens in Greece during last few years I almost expected something like that. Nothing in lyrics or music on this album is directly related with nowadays realities but as any artist's living in epicenter of huge political and economical troubles Nikitas' music is directly on indirectly influenced by them. Being conceptual,this album recalls parallels with Pink Floyd's "The Wall" more than once (by similar theme and some musical influences), but at the same time it's really different. Instead of rainy and cloudy English sky one can hear here on "Suiciety" all history of classic music, from Orffian (or Magma's) dark dramatic sounds passages to operatic vocals timbres. I was really pleasantly surprised by regular changes of rhythms and structures - Nikitas uses them all album long what makes music more variable and less predictable,but even a single moment nothing sounds as chaos here. And - there are some places where arrangements sound jazzy,almost groovy.What a delight!

I really like album's title and cover art - them both are well connected between each other and works perfectly in some contrast with musical contain (one most probably needs to expect new The Ramones album judging from cover art and album's title). I really hate all these dragons and giants on modern albums of any kind, seventies has gone already, didn't you notice? Prog has a chance to survive if it will become modern instead of trying to copy again and again "these great times that will never come back..." It's great and most probably a must to remember the roots and use all that legacy, but lets innovate, not imitate.

Year 2015 looks like another wave of popularity of prog-roots sound, Steven Wilson with his new release just tried to play Genesis,Gabriel-era. To be honest, in this case I prefer original. Methexis' second album paying full respect to decades of progressive rock sub-culture, trying to go their own way. And they sound modern - it's probably the best prog album I heard this year up to now. Very strong 4 stars.