CHAIN OF FOODS

One of the best bands-to-be out there.

Failing to make any waves with their first album, this Norwegian group got themselves together and started to make this monster of an album. Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond my knowing, the band was dropped by their label and soon disbanded. This album was never finished, but was released as a free download on the internet for all to enjoy. Confusing to this fact is the production value of the album. It doesn't sound raw at all... really, it sounds like the band put tons of polish on the album... quite confusing for an album that would never hit shelves. More evidence to support the fact that this album is unfinished is the fact that the album doesn't even sport any cover art. Not that that takes away from the album at all. In fact, the only time that it shows that the album is unfinished is that the final song when... well, I'll let that be a surprise.

It's a real shame that this band never really got the feet under it to go anywhere, because the music here is fantastic!

As previous reviewers have stated, it's likely better to ignore the tech/extreme label on the band here. The music here really sounds like X-over or even heavy prog. Any fans of those genres will likely be blown away by this album. Strong bass lines (always a selling point for me) and some wonderful organ parts (reminiscent of classic Deep Purple) are what highlight this album so much along with some excellent melodies and hooks that demand repeated listening.

Opening with the quirky STARCHASER this album never lets down. The keys and guitars kick in right away as do the killer bass lines. Rapidly changing pace the song makes its way with some truly excellent moments. The floating keys in the background give the song an airy feel among all that pounding rhythm section until the song finally comes to an end. To quote the song Enjoy the ride!. DESERT MACHINE continues with the strong bass lines and drives across this heavy song with a bang. ACCORDION WOMAN is the song that brings forth the most notable Deep Purple influences, its notable riff and organ making for a nice combination as the catchy chorus blends in for a very notable track. Getting heavier and more into the guitar work is TERMINAL, similar to its predecessor in terms of organ/guitar work, this song is actually probably the simplest song out the of the mix so far. Still good none the less, and a good song to rock out to. A slow bridge/chorus also make for an interesting mixture.

Then we get to the really good stuff.

BLOOD IS BLOOD is the biggest standout on the album. Being the longest track this song also manages to capture everything already mentioned about the album that's great. Half of the song being an instrumental overture, the band really gets to strut their stuff here. The killer bass lines are back with a vengeance and so are the keys. The guitar drifts a bit more towards the background here but still provides a nice section. Really picking up around the 2 minute mark everything just keeps getting faster and better until everything simply dies off and the vocals bring out the song with some much more subdued work from the other members. Fantastico!

Coming into the second half of the album the band still manages to keep interest.

Starting off the mix is the quick instrumental WE WILL CRIMSON YOU. A clearly Fripp inspired song that's quite good (if not quite Crimson caliber), and the guitar actually coming to the foreground to take the helm from the keys and bass for a bit, even if they still are there. Almost bordering on Black Sabbath (mixed with the KC) sounding, this song is a nice change in pace. U is a quirky track that's yet another change in pace. Heavy and clunky, this track shows off the more metal side of the band. UNDEAD is a fairly lo-key track that feels necessary to start to tail off the album with. Good but not great, this song actually feels like a bit of filler. However, all is forgiven with the next (and final) track. NOTHING NEW is an unfortunately accurate and slightly foreboding title (it's their last song, so nothing new after this!). The song, however, is marvelous! slower than it's brothers yet still wonderful ear candy, this song is another one of those songs that epitomizes what the band does best. More great bass lines and keys coupled with some more to the front guitar work and blissful melodies makes one want this song to last forever. Coming to the end with some Wakeman like boards and a guitar that really picks up the song...the song... the song..!!! ... cuts off. It just ends. Likely meant to be the album's epic and never finished the song really just leaves you wanting more, which is both good and bad. Good because that's how an album should always end (with you wanting more) but bad because they're never going to follow up on this album and their debut will likely be tough to find. Oh well.

Wonderful music from a terribly misfated band that is recommended to all. (As mentioned before) Fans of heavy prog and X-over should give this album a shot, because it's a wonderfully hidden gem. Anyone who wants to check them out can search them up on the internet and download the album for free (and legally, too). 4 stars, it's not a masterpiece... but it sure is a great listen.

This sophomore release by Norwegian act Antidepressive Delivery certainly delivers lots of goodies to it's listeners; especially of certain types of 70's music is to your liking.

A dominating feature on this release is the combination of hard, driving guitar riffs and Hammond organ; in a typical 70's hard rock style which first and foremost makes you think about Deep Purple. The style isn't that close though, but the sound reminds of both them and Uriah Heep at times. However, more mellow segments as well as complicated parts are added to the compositions on this album - soaring keyboard layers and dampened funky guitar riffs as well as atmospheric guitar soloing; and in these mellow sections there are some Genesis and Camel moments. Again not similar in style, but with certain passages containing a similar sound at times. A fourth artist to namedrop here is Santana; as there are quite a few fusion moments here reminding (again more in sound than style) of this fine giant of the 70's. And the band sees to it to make a fifth influence rather obvious on the tune We will Crimson You.

Mixed together, this combination makes for an album that has a familiar sound to it; without sounding like a copy of any artists - at least not any big name ones - that can think off. A good release with strong tunes, with a mood that most certainly lives up to the band's chosen moniker.

Good Strong Classic Progressive Rock

Sub-genre: Tech/Extreme Progressive-Metal (No/No Yes-No, heavy prog or eclectic would fit) Edit: as of 9/27/2010 the band is reclassified as Heavy Prog
For Fans of: Kansas, Deep Purple with a hint of Floyd,King Crimson and Queen
Vocal Style: Rock and Roll! Beautiful harmonies abound
Guitar Style: Hard driving 70's distorted style with tasty clean breaks
Keyboard Style: Lots of classic B3, Rhodes and the occasional blast of Moog portamentos.
Percussion Style: Standard rock kit, bongo's too I think
Bass Style: Picked electric
Other Instruments: None

Summary: Every once in a while an entire country will just suddenly blow me away. Right now it seems to be Norway, and with very differing styles. Anti-Depressive Delivery creates a grand display of eclectic progressive styles in their sophomore release Chain of Foods. A recent question was brought forth, "Can retro be progressive?" Anti-Depressive Delivery makes the answer very clear. It can very well be progressive if it is done well. One trap set for modern progressive rock bands is the technology trap. Anti-depressive Delivery use twenty-first century technology sparingly and effectively create a beautiful throw back sound that is most frequently reminiscent of classic Kansas. The trap is most often sprung on keyboard players. How many times have we heard a classic '70's keyboard god suddenly sound cheesed out due to "modern" key sounds? Keybordist Håkon Marius Pettersen holds court with strong classic Hammond and Fender Rhodes sounds and never a hint of disgusting horn or string patches. The guitars are equally tasteful, avoiding the stiff and compressed distortions common to recent music. Not there is anything wrong with that, it just would not fit this product at all.

The Kansas parallels are also drawn easily in the Steve Walsh style vocals and broad rock harmonies. During the softer moments it not completely unlike hearing Crosby, Stills and Nash singing behind Pink Floyd, as in the song Undead and the last half of Blood is Blood. But the stylistic melting pot does not stop there. The aforementioned song starts with a very solid funk section that winds the listener up before launching him into a cozy beanbag cloud. There is also a simultaneous homage to King Crimson and Queen with the tastily satirical instrumental We Will Crimson You.

Final Score: A quick, easy favorite; strange thing is, this not usually the kind of band that I really go nuts for. But this album is so well constructed and just feels oh so good to listen too. Every Heavy, Symphonic, Crossover, Eclectic and even some Neo fans will have something to enjoy in this album. Chain of Foods is a must for any comprehensive prog collection. Did I mention I really, really like this album? 5 stars

One of my favourite discoveries of 2008 (though this album comes from 2007) is this excellent band from Norway. Anti-Depressive Delivery produce a type of music that I've heard many times before yet I can't really think of any current bands off the top of my head that I can draw a parallel with. For me the Tech/Extreme Prog Metal category is a bit misleading, for while they play driving heavy rock, the type we loved in the seventies, they have far more in common with the likes of Deep Purple than any bands in the Prog Metal Genre. Along with the heavy rock, throw in a bit of Funk, Jazz and seventies Prog and you get an idea of their sound.

Starchaser kicks in full force with a driving riff before settling into a Hammond heavy verse surprisingly reminiscent of The Small Faces circa Ogdens Nut Gone Flake; yes there seems to be some sixties influences in here too. In the main though it's a rocker with an excellent lengthy instrumental section section in the middle. A great opener and one of the strongest tracks here.

Desert Machine is another excellent Hammond driven up tempo rocker almost as good as opener Starchaser and is than a mellotron I hear? There's also an excellent Hammond solo and in Vocalist (also bass) Pete Beck they have a great singer in the classic rock tradition.

Another favourite is Terminal, another rocker, simple in structure but a great riff with a strong melody. Following on from this is Blood in Blood with its funky driving rhythm with some jazz inflected electric piano. At 7 minutes long, it opens with a 3 minute instrumental workout before the pace drastically drops for a more subdued vocal section.

The title of We Will Crimson You says it all, a nod of course to King Crimson circa Red and is a short instrumental. U maintains the quality with some more Crimson influences in the first guitar solo but that's where the Crimson comparisons stop as its more of a psychedelic tinged piece of heavy rock overall.

So if you enjoy early seventies style heavy rock with plenty of Hammond organ this could be the cd for you. Well worth checking out and deserving of far more attention than it's likely to get.

3.5 stars.This album is much different from their debut. The album cover is pretty funny though with the guys dressed like fruits and vegetables.The music itself has a vintage seventies feel to it with lots of organ.

"Starchaser" opens aggressively before it settles as vocals come in.The contrast continues. Nice guitar solo after 5 minutes. "Desert Machine" reminds me a little of DEEP PURPLE. Powerful drums and organ lead the way as vocals join in. Mellotron before 3 minutes, guitar follows. "Accordion Woman" features lots of organ in the intro before it settles as vocals arrive.Tasteful guitar 2 minutes in and some good chunky bass before 3 minutes. "Terminal" hits the ground running with vocals,riffs and organ. It calms down after a minute and the contrast continues. "Blood Is Blood" is led early by drums, guitar and organ. It settles as again contrasts are continued. Vocals after 4 minutes.

"We Will Crimson You" is by far my favourite and obviously with that title there is a KING CRIMSON flavour to this one. Lots of heaviness and it's quite dark. This is an instrumental by the way. My only complaint is that it's too short. "U" opens with vocals and a full sound. A nice heavy sound before 2 1/2 minutes.The guitar sounds great 3 minutes in. "Undead" is fairly laid back with some instrumental outbreaks. "Nothing New" features some nice guitar a minute in, then vocals, bass and drums take over. It settles after 2 minutes and the contrast continues.

An improvement over their debut but for me it's still lacking something. Good album though.