RAMAGEHEAD

3.5 stars. I had this on my wish list on this site that sells music but was really on the fence about buying it and went back to take it off that wish list only to see they dropped the price. I picked it up and I know there are a lot of people on this site who would love this album. Adam Jones from TOOL did the futuristic cover art that I don't like at all. As far as the band goes we have Colin Edwin from PORCUPINE TREE and he continues to be far in the background as usual. Pat Mastelotto from KING CRIMSON is great as usual but playing acoustic and electronic drums here. The singer is incredible but often singing like Mercury in those more laid back tunes and I'm not a fan of those smooth vocals. Can he sing though when he lets go and in different styles and tones. He is the focus.

The guitarist adds another layer not really soloing here. But having said all this there are some really good songs on here. The ones I like the best contrast the heavy and lighter sections really well like the opener "Kneel To Nothing" but also "Signals Erased" and "Beyond Sight" although they do contain some of those smooth vocals. In contrast he really lets it rip 3 minutes in on "Beyond Sight", so impressive. We get the SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer on "Black Blooms" with excellent contrasts once again but the vocals too really make this song standout. "Time Corroded" is almost ballad-like to open but there's so much depth, it sounds amazing as do the vocals on this one.

For me those are the highlights while the final four tracks just don't quite measure up to varying degrees but there's some highlights in some of those songs as well. A good album. The liner notes unfold to an 8X12 sheet with the lyrics on one side and the cover art on the other. I'm back because I didn't realize this is under Prog Metal which surprised me, "Ramagehead" is more of a Heavy Prog styled album in my opinion.