XIII

NURKOSTAM are a Finnish rock project around three founders Toni NURMI, Tero KOSKI, and Janne TAMMINEN, mainly influenced by Genesis' theatricality, King Crimson's experimental literature, Pink Floyd's space rock, and Yes' careful complexity, and Wigwam the Finnish Rock Giant. And as you hope, they can invite some eclecticism and break it into fragments in their soundscape.

Listened to their album "XIII" and been beaten soundly by the first track "Iscream", sparkling in complex and lyrical sounds that can remind us something close to the atmosphere around King Crimson. Trembling heavy dark shower of sound bullets shot via three rock launchers is very tremendous for proggers. Two songs following the first are very poppy and cannot ring my bells, though. The fourth "Between", a keyboard-solo-based tune can notify us that they might have tried to follow Genesis Theatre ... as if their voices and whispers should be possessed by Ghost of Gabriel. Very mellow and dramatic progression, we can be immersed into. Next "Madness", the same keyboard flavour added, is very serious and critical on the contrary. Tastes bitter and dangerous, no matter what happened around the three gangsters. The last "Archie" is very sticky and slimy psychedelia, where they all exerted powers of perverse persuasion ... not be seen, not be heard anywhere, so impressive.

In conclusion, for me "XIII" is a good album indeed, but sadly not so united as a progressive one. There are some extreme sound-shines in them, which can let me do hope they'll shoot more magnificent drama ... certainly!