VELVET THORNS

The Norwegian progressive metal band SONIC DEBRIS debut CD is also the first album to be released on the Dutch DVS label. SONIC DEBRIS was founded in 1995 and they have released three demos before this CD, two under the name Blindfold and one as SONIC DEBRIS. Some of SONIC DEBRIS influences are David BOWIE, DREAM THEATER, EAGLES, EARTH WIND & FIRE, FAITH NO MORE, KING CRIMSON, KING'S X, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, RUSH, SIMPLE MINDS, STING and U2. SONIC DEBRIS music is aggressive and heavy with lots of attitude, and some of the influences have coloured their music. The final result is a unique mix between DREAM THEATER, FAITH NO MORE, RADIOHEAD, SIMPLE MINDS and U2 while Rune Sørheim's vocals is a mix between Bono (U2), Jim Kerr (SIMPLE MINDS) and James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER). The musicians are very skilled and the songs are well played with lots of good melodies and memorable choruses. The CD has a very beautiful cover and sleeve artwork by Mattias Norén (www.progart.com). Mattias are simply one of the best and his artworks can be seen on covers by ARENA, FORGOTTEN SUNS, MAYADOME, MIND'S EYE, MOURNINGSTAR, TRIANGLE and WOLVERINE to mention a few. This is a very impressive debut CD, probably one of the best debut albums in the progressive metal genre this year, although I have a feeling that they can develop even further. Highly recommended!

Sonic Debris - one of the unknown prog metal acts from Norway with almost 2 decades career so far has 2 albums in their pockets so far, but the debut is the most intresting one from the two. Velvet thorns is the name of their first album, released in 2000. Well, what we have here is pretty good, this is the type of prog metal that I'm not so atached, but I like it untill some point. Imagine a combination of Rush with Faith No More and add prog metal chops on it the result is Sonic Debris. The vocalist remind me in many places with Bono from U2 but in combination with the instrumental passages he is quite ok. Short pieces, almost all are under 5 min time, but each tune is well constructed and played. Half complicate type of prog metal, with most of the time back ground keyboards as suport, the guitar has an important role here. All in all a decent debut in prog metal scene, nothing groundbreaking, but pleasent most of the time.