FANTASY

The family that plays together...

Through the years we heard about some musical families playing and recording a number of different musical styles: pop, country, folk, soul, jazz, etc. I guess most people here will remember names like The Jackson 5, Hanson, The Cowsills or The Osmonds. But progressive rock? Well, now we got it! In this case they are the Benders from Sweden. The core members of the band are father Mats (keyboards), mother Anna (vocals), son Mattias (drums) and daughter Johanna (percussion, harmony vocals). They decided to record some of the songs mats Bender has been writing for many years. Fantasy is the result of that where they are helped by their crafty friend Henrik Björlind (guitar, synth, violin, accordion and flute). The other members of the band are Peter Wetterberg (bass) and Per Danielsson (lead guitar).

The music here is a delightful melodic symphonic rock with generous doses of jazz, folk, swedish popular music and even some celtic flavors here and there. It´s hard to compare them to any other prog act because they are already showing a strong personality, even if the many influences are easy to see (Pink Floyd, Genesis and the like....). The CD is quite varied and very well produced, featuring Mats Bender´s fluid keyboards lines, Anna´s strong and beautiful vocals, Mattias versatile drumming and Johanna´s nice harmonies. Guitarrist Danielsson is another highlight with his melodic, creative solos while Björlind adds the folkish bits.

Over 70 minutes fo prog music. All the tracks are good, with no fillers. It´s hard to point out a highlight because of the different styles of each song, but certainly the 26 minute title track will appeal to progheads in general.

If you´re into the scandinavian prog scene (or melodic symphonic prog in general) this is surely a must have. Introitus delivers a music that has several shades and forms, some are light and bright, some are more dark and gloomy, but none is weak. Anna Jobs Bender is a fantastic singer that can handle just about every style they pedal. I loved the way she delivered the words, with beauty and conviction. And the (many) instrumental parts are just as fine.

Rating: since it is only their first CD, I will give it 4 stars. For they have the potential to go much further. Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection. This is a great find!

A very rare case, if not the only one, of a band consisting of parents and children.This family matter begins way before the debut of the band, when Mats Bender started writing music, while the lyrics were provided by his wife Ann Jobs.Introirus started in Vansbro in mid-00's, when Mats decided that the current technology could help him present his material in full shape.With him on keyboards, Ann Jobs on vocals, their children Mattias and Johanna on drums and choirs respectively and a few friends on guitars, bass and flutes, Introitus recorded their debut ''Fantasy'' and self-released it in 2007.

Their sound belongs definitely among the contemporary prog bands with a very diverse sound and a variety influences, ranging from Symphonic Rock to folsky passages and from a Heavy Prog instrumental mood to energetic Neo Prog.One can hear elements from bands like SKY ARCHITECT, MAGENTA, MOSTLY AUTUMN, ARENA and NEXUS.Mats' compositions are filled with drama and grandiosity, characterized by the huge synthesizer flights, powerful guitars and a great flexibility between changing climates.But there is also some space for more melancholic atmosphere, often based on a folkier mood with strings, flutes, bagpipes, accordion and synths on the forefront as well as Ann Jobs' warm voice.The five-part 26-min. eponymous opus is certainly the best example of the Introitus' diversity.From the grand symphonic textures with harsichord, piano and organ as the leaders and the somber folsky passages to the Neo-like floating synth soundscapes and the dynamic guitar-dominated grooves, this arrangement contains all the band's ideas and varied influences but also the evident talent of Mats Bender in composition.The absence of a specific direction though is mostly a problem, the huge amount of different sounds sometimes confuses the listener than trully sets him in the mood, while a couple of tracks are really hard to stick into your mind.However there is a sense around that this band is able to write some trully masterful material.

A nice first step by this family-band with some great ideas here and there and an album close to being representitive of what modern prog is all about.''Fantasy'' was re-released by Progress Records in 2011 and it is quite easy to be purchased.Warmly recommended, this is a band to keep an eye on.

This the first CD of this group and the first one I have listened and I gotta say this is a pleasant surprise. First of all It is very unusual in prog to have four members of one family playing together but here they do a great job. Even the mother with her lyrics and voice (both are just fine, not great). Second of all, the music is great but here It comes the weakness I found: there's no Introitus "sound" there's not a single element that gives a clue what direction the second production will have. Keyboards are great, guitar playing is just what you expect, there's a violin (a good one) and some other instruments. Expect some Mostly Autumn comparisons but this is a different kind of group, more prog than celtic. Good one to have in your collection.

INTROITUS was founded in Vansbro, central Sweden, sometime before the new Millennium. It's basically a family business: composer Mats Bender plays keyboards (plus accordion and additional guitars, bass and percussion), and his wife Anna Jobs Bender is the lead vocalist. I wonder if the cover picture of the marrying couple is referring directly to them. Their daughter Johanna is one of the backing vocalists, and drums are played by their son Mattias. In addition to the Bender family, many other musicians are involved in this originally self-released but highly ambitious debut album containing over 72 minutes of grand scale Symphonic /Neo Prog. The music had been composed in a long timespan.

The opening track is called 'Genesis', but undoubtedly the word must be taken for its meaning, not as a reference to the prog band. The impressive instrumental contains sonic resemblance to PINK FLOYD around The Dark Side & Wish You Were Here era (especially on keyboards and electric guitars), but lots of other things too. Violins bring some folk nuances, although combined with hard rocking prog drive you might think of Kansas as well. In the beginning of this track and occasionally on the course of the whole album the synths add an electronic music flavour (Vangelis, the most progressive Tangerine Dream, etc.). On 'Child', the shortest track at 5:56, Anna's strong and clear voice enters the spotlight. The well-written, ballad-ish song slightly resembles bands such as MOSTLY AUTUMN and features also accordion. 'Ghost' (9:12) goes further into passionate drama of metal-flavoured Neo Prog, e.g. ARENA.

The best showcase for the group's high ambitions and diversity is the five-part title epic 'Fantasy' (26:02). Containing both vocal and instrumental movements, it has everything mentioned above and then some more, all in a fairly coherent continuity. If you're not allergic to grandiose, dramatic gestures in the Floydian slow tempo settings and if you enjoy the bands mentioned above, this album will most likely impress you. The production is very good. Introitus has released three albums after this debut. As one can guess from their artwork, the latest ones Anima (2014) and Shadows (2019) increase the metallic edge. Although I haven't thoroughly listened to all their albums, I believe it's this very debut that works the best for me.