FABLES OF THE SLEEPLESS EMPIRE

We have a winner here! The best prog-rock album of 2011 came from the most unexpected place: Canada, arguably the most boring country on the planet. Their last album from 2006 was brilliant, and this one is just as good, maybe even sounds a tad better (5 years have passed, a lifetime in audio technology).

This is a full, fat ghost-ride to your prog-metalist best dream come true: innovative song structures, sharp lyrics, amazing basswork, wild vocals, endless surprises along the way - and no cliches. You've got avant-guard attitude with kung-fu precision - brave art armed with an axe.

I've heard so many albums this year, most of them redundant. The best work always comes from groups that have taken long breaks between albums. UneXpect have gathered high-quality materials, worked on them and re-shaped them. The final product is nothing short of an ear-adventure.

While the "big names" of prog like Dream Theater, Steven Wilson and Opeth are repeating themselves or going nowhere, UneXpect is doing the actual work that this genre was born to do: progress, progress and progress.

I'm a lucky man to have this disc in my house. Since I live the far-away Israel (a small piece of land lying in the hot Middle East), with no chance of this Montreal band coming over here for a small gig, the digital album is a life-saver. "Fables of the Sleepless Empire?" more like "tales from topographic oceans" taken to the undying extreme.

See you guys again in 2016, your next album's release date. In the meantime - let's crown this band for their excellent artistic work. This type of diamond doesn't come easily: blood, sweat and tears are your home-made tools. And where would we be without home studios? anyway, this item should show up in the dictionary next to the term "Autobuy".

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