DELAYED REACTION

'Delayed Reaction' - Bolus (6/10)

As one would hope, 'prog' rock has developed to keep up with the ever-changing scope of modern music. Bolus is one such act that attempts to live up to that original tenant of prog rock, being to take the sounds of so-called popular music and push the envelope of their artistic credibility. 'Delayed Reaction' is a fair demonstration of what this Canadian duo is all about; talented and professional, Bolus makes some good, melodic music here, without necessarily convincing me that it will do something that hasn't already been seen.

Calling this band neo-prog is a fair assessment. In general, there is an attention to vocal melodies here that alot of orthodox prog does not, especially when it comes to the harmonies that this duo makes. Bolus often sound like they are fusing melodic prog with alternative rock, and this is a fusion of styles that has been quite promising to me in the past. A comparison could be drawn here to Marillion, as the music is typically favouring beautiful melancholy over technical display. Mid-era Rush also plays a factor here. The band is most definitely influenced by the classic bands, as is most evident in the sounds and textures they choose to use. The keyboards are derived from Genesis it sounds, and Alex Lifeson's guitar tones seem to be emulated throughout 'Delayed Reaction'. Of course, if you're a prog fan, these 'derivative' elements are not necessarily a bad thing. All the same, it feels like despite Bolus' evident strength in terms of production, performance, and melody-writing, they are content to stay within the shadow of those that came before.

The production is something that particularly impressed me, especially the way these vocal harmonies come out in the mix. The vocals of Nick Karch are quite good, although there are times when he seems to take a little too nasal of a tone with his voice. The vocal harmonies are where this band's strength lies, at least as far as their performance goes. Although they are kept relatively simple, the arrangements add alot to the melodies of this band, which are already quite good on their own. Besides a few melodies however, 'Delayed Reaction' is not a particularly memorable album. It is enjoyable, long, and- in some instances- ambitious, but perhaps a little too dry to leave a lasting impression on me.

In the quest to find progressive rock bands that have a more commercial approach but retain integrity in their compositions and technique, is good to find groups that do not try to change the game or be the next Dream Theater. Just a band that want's to play their music and show it to the world.

Bolus and Their Delayed Reaction album fit the definition described above.

And in truth I am very happy to have found this band, because it was one of the best discoveries I made in 2010

First things first, Who are Bolus? Where did they come from? Fortunately there are answers to these questions.

Bolus is a Canadian band, that I must say just took me by surprise because I knew nothing about them. I just knew that this was their second album and they had released their first album in 2005.

Most surprising was the age at which they produced and recorded the album. Approximately 20-23 years of age. Now that's amazing.

I didn't know what to expect to hear, but certainly not the quality and maturity in compositions that are generally reserved for older ages. But in some songs the lyrics do tend to show that this is a young band. Not juvenile, just whimsical.

This band plays with such an irresistible energy that it is impossible not to feel hopeful about what they can achieve with more time and experience. Here's to a promising career.

Their style is a bit difficult to define precisely because they flirt with many genres, but they focus mainly on alternative rock, so I feel that categorize them in the neo prog genre is a bit bold, even a misnomer. Nick Karch has a particularly pleasant voice which can enhance the more melodic parts of some tracks. It must be said that the vocal harmonies are one of the best aspects of the band just because they are elegant and distinctly integrated in the songs making them more memorable.

Because the band consists of two people, both have to be multi-instrumentalist. And in this regard they are quite prolific. But because of this, you can not expect great solos or situations where they give in into self-indulgence. They just play the music as best as possible and while Nick tries to show off the guitar from time to time is always at the service of the song, not the ego.

All in all, the appreciation you have for the band will undoubtedly depend on your opinion of commercial music, more specifically alternative rock. But if you give it a chance, this album may surprise you and ultimately that is what this genre it's all about.

4 Stars Recommended!