TROUBLED MIND

Derev combines old-school metal and progressive rock with Arab-Armenian sounds. "Buried Voice" opens with a dark alternative, a melody that changes tempo, the vocals flirting with the sounds of Katatonia and Antimatter. The immaculate softness is accentuated by the bass, with Adel amplifying it; a synth break from The Who takes hold, the sound takes off again, captivating, between gray autumn skies and the plains of Kazakhstan. "Cyclone" begins with a cyclical riff, the redundant note both hypnotic and languorous. A classic evolution through the instrumentation bringing musical tension, the lyrics about imposter syndrome. Between doubt and regret, a velvety, melancholic guitar solo to crush any feeling of rebellion. A beautiful progressive exercise, the final fade-out with "Crawl Space" links the cinematic moment filled with a feeling of melancholy, violin, and latent atmosphere. The piano comes from a stressful spatial limbo. "Room 9" explodes, dark prog metal, raw energy, punchy rhythms, a captivating atmosphere with this machine-gun drumming. The riff ticks by, the velvety synth, Armando's sharp guitar solo on a Balkan air; a heavy outro to nod along to.

"Paracusia" with a porcupine riff, velvety synth, and chatty bass, a proven funky instrumental. A true auditory hallucination bringing the guitar to a dynamite jazzy-progressive side. "Tides of Time" is an alternative melancholic ballad with a time signature shifting from 7/8 to 4/4 and a sound reminiscent of the desperate melodic hard rock of the 90s. The guitar solo disarms with its captivating spleen. "Darker Self" with an oriental drum pad, a disarming riff, acoustic with a cajon, everything to send you into a musical trance. A track reminiscent of Soundgarden, Spock's Beard, Rush, and the Von Hertzen Brothers, very varied. The staccato, captivating tune, a sublime guitar solo, further enhances the intoxicating atmosphere. "Trace Within" is ethereal with its Floydian keyboard and gravelly vocals; an atmospheric piece with its airy guitar, a languid vocal duet worthy of Anathema with Hiske as a guest, supported by bursts of piano and a warm darbuka.

Introspective retro prog with a captivating, innovative melancholy. A charming, contemplative, progressive, melodic, and alternative opus, a stunning album oozing with a progressive vibe; a new sound that refers solely to their ideas and pushes back the prog trend. An avant-garde album to keep an eye on. Originally released on Progcensor.

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