THE OUTSIDER

Numen's fourth release represents a departure from "Cyclothymia." That album followed a very melodic neo-prog vein, albeit with a certain fondness for the British symphonic sounds of the 1970s.

"The Outsider" is a very distinctive album. In this nearly two-hour rock opera, through its main character, Paul, he tells us about a less spiritual and more materialistic human being, who fills his empty life with momentary and superficial satisfactions. All of his unresolved conflicts will lead him to a point of no return.

The music is tremendously varied, closer to the stylistic experimentation of their first album, "Samsara." Aside from the classic progressive rock lineup, we find a diverse array of instrumentation: flutes, oboes, trombones, string instruments, and much more. In addition, the addition of Alba Hernández's beautiful voice, which already represents a marked change from César Alcaraz. And, of course, the collaboration with Marillion's Steve Rothery is a plus.

An album I could define as a mix of "Subterránea," "Brave," "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway," and the band's first album, "Samsara." Many shifts in tone, light and dark, with beautiful orchestrations and elaborate arrangements. With some narration that gives context to the story and dense music that requires multiple listens to fully appreciate. Thus, we conclude that this is an essential album of 2025 and a triumph for Numen in this new era.

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