THE PROMETHEAN SYNDROME

This five-piece formation contains members from both the USA as Norway, I had never heard of Azureth so I missed their debut CD entitled Yesterday's Future, Tomorrow's Past (2004). Now I am very grateful that I purchased one copy of Azureth their new CD The Promethean Syndrome in order to review it, what a great album! My good friend and fellow Dutchman Angelo (he also added Azureth to PA) asked me to have a look at Prog Archives, there I noticed a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews, now let's quickly make an musical analysis of this awesome new progrock band.

One of my first actions to make a review is collecting information like reading the biography and discography and having a look at the instrumentation, especially because of my fascination for 'vintage' instruments (like a Rickenbacker bass guitar or Hammond B3 organ). Well, Azureth didn't disappoint me on that front, in contrary: the guitarplayer owns a Fender Telecaster (Steve Howe uses it to play with power) and an acoustic Ovation DeLuxe (featuring that distinctive sound and shape) and the keyboardplayer has a wide range of great vintage synthesizer sounds like the modular Moog (Keith Emerson in early ELP) - and Yamaha CS80 synthesizer (Eddie Jobson in UK) and he also uses the Yamaha P80 digitale Grand piano to create a warm Grand piano sound.

And now the music, what a captivating musical experience! Azureth delivers 10 alternating and tastefully arranged compositions with a clear production. The one moment the sound contains bombastic keyboards and howling guitar or a heavy mid-tempo with flashy synthesizer flights and fiery guitar solos, the other moment you can enjoy mellow and accessible parts with warm twanging acoustic guitar and Grand piano or acoustic rhythm guitar with vocal harmonies. Thanks to the many fluent and exciting shifting moods Azureth succeeds to keep my attention for every second, I am delighted about the frequent excellent solos on guitar (from sensitive to biting wah-wah drenched) and keyboards, especially the use of the pitchbend button is sensational like in Shadow Of A Man II (wonderful changing climate from dreamy with acoustic guitar and Grand piano to an accellaration featuring bombastic keyboards and fiery guitar) and Into The Nowhere (spectacular guitar and keyboards). But the ultimate thrill on this CD is the final composition, the epic A New World: first a slow rhythm with a bit sultry atmosphere and soul-inspired vocals, then a cascade of shifting moods (from an accellaration with propulsive drums and fiery guitar, a beautiful part with Grand piano and acoustic guitar, an interlude with heavy Hammond and fat Moog and a blistering wah-wah drenched guitar solo) to a splendid conclusion, culminating into 'Keyboard Heaven' delivering all classic synthesizer sounds, perfectly blended with a piece of ELP (Pictures At An Exhibition) and fiery guitar runs, GOOSE BUMPS!

After the excitement of new albums by lesser known progrock bands like Simon Says, Moonrise, Nemesis, Cronico, Mind Furniture, Tricantropus and Moon Safari, again I am absolutely delighted about a new lesser known progrock band: a big hand for Azureth with their second CD!

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