PHLEGETHON

This is Kingcrow's fourth album and according to the band, their most ambitious and adventurous effort. Kingcrow play progressive metal with prog rock (mainly neo-prog here) influences. Their main influences are Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, and Porcupine Tree, which is a good choice for any prog metal band, unless their influences are so obvious, as in some parts of "Phlegethon", which, however, is a very good album.

1. "The Slide" is the album's intro, and not a good start at all. That's not because it's a bad intro, but because it essentially is a cover of "High Hopes". I am sure that was not the band's intention, but the similarities are impossible to ignore.

2. "Timeshift Box" (instrumental) blasts with a magnificent riff and continues in the Dream Theater (especially Petrucci guitar playing) vein with great ideas from both guitarists. Solid and efficient, one of my favourite album tracks.

3. "Islands" is one of the best compositions in the album with great riffing and very good vocal lines from Diego Marchesi, a new band member and very good vocalist.

4. "The Great Silence" is a small, slow prog metal song. Some very good vocals again, reminding of Daniel Gildenlöw, as in...

5. "Lullaby For An Innocent", a really adventurous song with variant sounds and moods. There are obvious neo-prog influences here, especially before the breaking of both electric guitar solos. Exceptional.

6. "Evasion" is a more modern song. The vocal lines remind of typical Porcupine Tree (post In Absentia) and the chorus gives the catchy impression of "Black Brick Road" (Lake Of Tears).

7. "Numb" is by far my favourite song in "Phlegethon". Lasting a bit less than 9 minutes, this is a very interesting opinion on prog metal. Very fresh and inspired, with a beautiful structure, it grows more after every listen.

8. "Washing Out Memories" is another neo-prog influenced prog metal track. The work of the two guitarists especially from 3:51 till the end of the song is really great.

9. "A New Life" includes many rhythm changes, and, once again, a very good melodic solo closing.

10. "Lovocaine" is probably the song that will appeal to most (prog) metal fans. It's the heaviest song in the album. There is a turn towards eastern sounds and after every listen Pain of Salvation come to mind. Good one.

11. "Fading Out PT. III" continues what "Lovocaine" had started, with a much more prog touch, multuple vocals and a very good twin guitar solo. I have to admit that this is the only song with a descent keyboard sound production, which is rather weak in most of the other tracks.

12. "Phlegethon" is the closing song and some kind of the album epic, lasting 9:44 with evident Pain of Salvation touches. It is really good, however the sound of the rhythm guitars is a bit low (not only here), and this weakens the song to a great extent.

Overall, a very good album. I had a great time listening to "Phlegethon" and I think that any prog metal fan will at least like and respect Kingcrow. I apologize for not mentioning anything about the lyrics. I haven't read them yet, and I know that it is very important for a concept album.