ACTORS IN A PLAY

The only band from Belgium that I knew before Mindgames was Hooverphonic. They're absolutely not musically alike but they share at least one thing: the strong desire to please with savoir-faire.

Mindgames will maybe not reach the clouds in the progressive skyline dominated these days by Dream Theater, Riverside, Pallas and Arena, but they've done a very nice job with Actors in a Play. They wanted to go in the most saturated section of progressive rock: Néo. So many bands are trying to be the new IQ or the latest Marillion clone; not forgetting the departure of Arena from that section, towarding the harder edges of metal. So yes, the néo prog section is filled with wannabes and neverwas, all showing their affection for their long lost heroes. Mindgames sounds very Néo progressive with the usual keyboard sounds, low profile rythm section and Rothery guitars. What' new then?

Despite all the common Néo ingredients, in many occasions Actors in a Play sounds a tad more exciting than the average Néo band (Everon, Illuvatar, Violet District or Red Sand). The tendecy is more on the symphonic side, with deeper melodies, meditated arrangements.

For 2006, I place this one with the good surprises of the Néo genre. Too bad there's too few of them.

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