NARCOTICA

This sophomore release from US duo Invisigoth is a chaotic trip into unique musical landscapes, and not an album it will be easy to get into.

The main reason for this being the structure of the songs, most of them jumping from style to style and segment to segment a multitude of times from start to finish; making it challenging to get a feel for the tunes as such. Dominating traits are layered synths, sometimes symphonic and sometimes cinematic in nature, careful use of guitars to add structure to the soundscape, a multitude of style changes as mentioned; going from prog metal to pop, and even funk and jazz are styles briefly visited. All songs are highly melodic at all times though, and several of them have one or more passages influenced by Eastern music going as a red thread through the album.

This is a chaotic release in many ways, and not a release that will have a mass appeal. Fans of modern experimental rock music, especially those that may also enjoy cinematic music and computer game music, are the ones I'd guess will find this one most appealing.

Interesting band this Invisigoth, not even remotely close to something like traditional neo prog but definitely prog, of a more modern sort that is. First impressions are they sound like The Mars Volta and even somewhat like Ayreon, both mainly in the vocal department. Musically and compositionwise this is multi influenced, sometimes middle eastern sounding (early in the second part of Dark Highway) , the next moment is suddenly more like RIO avant or jazzy, sometimes heavy with also slight hints to modern neo prog (if this at all exists).

Anyway, very hard to pigeon-hole but certainly worthwhile listening to and exploring if you want something completely different. Not 100% original and innovative maybe but still a breath of fresh air in my opinion. Another advantage is that music like this will keep growing on you because of the challenge due to complexity. Because of the large progressive content rather than my personal liking I will give it four stars.

While loads of musicianship is demonstrated in this album, it is obvious that Invisigoth's creature has been cooked up in a lab; because there are numerous - daresay diverse - influences burned into its DNA. While the results are melodic, it's often pretty scary to behold. It's harder to say if it's closer to Frankenstein's monster or a Predalien. Regardless, it won't be an alienator to prospective fans on the fringe of progressive rock. Then again, people may fear getting mauled by this transmogrified chimera at first. In the end, the breed gets a bad wrap as it's both provocative and affable when given a chance.

To name a few of its weird vices and varied traits: Planet P Project, Led Zeppelin, and Little Blue Crunchy Things are deeply-seated in its chromosomes.

"Dark Highway" is the coup de gras, because it has a Broadway musical stitched into its fuzzy fleece. It's comprised of "Transmission" followed by "Before First Flight". The multi- track composition doesn't conclude until the final two tracks with "New Rome" and "Take the Blood".

Even though its split personalities are set apart, it works cohesively with the rest of the album. Since the featured epic is foremost and also gives last rites, the advanced organism pretty much guarantees a good impression from its blockhead to its lightning bolt screws to its gangrene toes. I dissected it and tried out several permutations. To be honest, it's kind of like a Manglord. When his arms were ripped apart, they were easily reattached. The sticky figurine also plays well with the other pliable tracks.

In my not-so-humble opinion, the best song in the series is "A Beautiful Disaster". While unsurpassed, it still gave me a stiff neck due to the constant rubbernecking it compels you to do. The title track is another sociable oddball; quite deserving of such an addictive name. Likewise, something of a friendly and fetishistic nature shows up in "Pornucopia", too.

Back to the extensive featurette, Parts III & IV of "Dark Highway" pick up right where Part I & II left off -- regardless of the fact that these distinguishing parts are separated by mucho space. Frankly, it could have been an EP but the content in between the dual double doses doesn't dilute the sum of its parts. Actually, the extrapolated nucleus adds a lot. Strangely coincidental, the conclusion of "Dark Highway" has dialogue that sounds a lot like Health Ledger's insanely-serious Joker. Initially, it's grim. In due course, it'll put the most heinous grin on your face.

Though the output from this assembly line doesn't tie in with transforming robots, sword- wielding pirates, muscle heads or garbage pail kids, it's all intriguingly-clean fun. As a result, there is a very good chance that Invisigoth will incite that bratty kid in you to come out and play and throw your boring toy bands away -- for something like this that's far more fascinating and significantly less tame.

Following on from 2007's 'Alcoholocaust', it is hard to believe that this 2009 release is the work of just two guys, with Cage providing all the music and Viggo Domino all the vocals. When I first started listening to the album I thought I had it pegged at Steely Dan style Seventies rock, but it didn't take long for those thoughts to be blown away. Musically this is all over the place, from Gabriel and Porcupine Tree through Styx and Floyd, Flower Kings, It Bites and many others. It is strange, yet easy to listen to: it is complex and chaotic, a ramshackle mess of music that somehow works incredibly well. The very first time I played this I fell in love with it, as there are so many changes of styles that it just shouldn't work, shouldn't gel, but somehow it does, and I have no idea how that can happen.

Just sit back, turn it on, and enjoy the ride, just don't have any preconceived ideas before you do so. They even bring in middle eastern elements when they feel the time is right! In some ways, it feels more like a project than a band, but it certainly never sounds like the work of just two people. There is light, there is passion, and they are pushing the boundaries and refusing to accept they must stay inside the lines, and all power to them for doing that. An incredibly solid album, and one I enjoyed immensely.

On this second album from the group, multi-instrumentalist Cage offers up a wide smorgasboard of sounds for vocalist Viggo Domino to apply his vocal prowess too. Cage's ability to work in a wide range of influences and ideas is certainly impressive, but it does mean that the album tends to come across as a bit unapproachable - and, worse, a bit anonymous. I was left without any strong sense of what the Invisigoth sound actually is beyond a chaotic mashup of prog and alternative rock tropes dipped into and out of without much rhyme or reason. Technically clever, and so some will find it interesting on that level, but not satisfying on a deeper level.