ZUMANTHUM

A sudden Finnish!

I have to confess to knowing nothing about this band until I stumbled across them on this website. Released in 2002, Zumanthum appears to be this Finnish band's only album to date, but it does indicate that Overhead have significant potential.

The opening 20 minute track "Beginning to end" is a superb piece of traditional prog rock. Loads of time changes, excellent guitar, and keyboards which range from basic soloing to the creation of lush orchestral textures. The vocals are the only weak point really, they just don't sound right for the music. They sound almost pop like, with hints of the Bee Gees, well sung, but not quite right.

There are five tracks in total, the remaining four include the laid back instrumental "Wasteland", and the harder 14 minute title track. The latter has a great final section called "In the wind", which has rather a strange ending. It just stops in mid flow, similar to the way "I want you" by the Beatles does on Abbey Road, effective but rather unsatisfactory.

There are more than passing similarities with the music of Yes at times, I was especially reminded of the "Big Generator" album. There are also "Flower Kings" influences, but the band must be credited with a great deal of originality, and indeed potential.

At the time of writing the entire album, along with several other tracks, is available for free download via the band's website, a link to which is on the band's page on this website.

A relatively new band,OVERHEAD were found in Helsinki by four students,before expanding to a quintet and record a self-produced album,called ''The snowman album''.Unfortunately this effort didn't receive much attention,so the band worked on new material,which meant to be their next effort ''Zumanthum'' in 2002.OVERHEAD teach the way of how a modern prog band can sound like,without ''forgetting'' their style's roots.''Zumanthum'' is a great conmpilation of inspired soundscapes and influences.First band that comes to mind are 70's KING CRIMSON,due to some complicated guitar passages and a few extreme bass lines.Then it's the heavy use of piano for creating nice interplays in a complex way,reminding a bit of E.L.P.,and afterwards come some rather heavy guitar parts in the vein of DREAM THEATER.Synths are used often to create spacey atmospheres,not unlike PINK FLOYD,while the vocals are quite harsh,resembling more to alternative rock bands that progressive ones.The whole result is absolutely satisfying,a great release with nice instrumental parts,intense moods and changing tempos.OVERHEAD are a band built for progressive rock's present and future.

This is another very confidential Nordic band who released quite a good effort at the turn of the century.

The first couple of minutes of their epic opener are absolutely gorgeous, but as Bob also mentions, the weak part are the vocals. But it is not the first time than some Scandinavian bands fail to provide great vocalists.

Still, this ''Beginning To End'' is a solid prog epic, with some truly rocking passages which provides a lot of dynamics. This song will satisfy almost any old freak as I am: great guitar, brilliant keys and a strong rhythmic section. With a definite appeal to melody. What else do we need?

This song is highly instrumental (thanks a bunch for this) and conveys a great feel throughout its length (over 20 minutes). It is of course THE highlight of this album, the other songs having problems to fight with such a great opponent. A huge number indeed.

It would be unfair though to limit this album to the only epic. The almost instrumental (again) ''Asleep'' gets its full credits as well. Even if the sound is weirder and heavier, it has its own merit. There are some complex interplay and the whole is not easily accessible; but once you got it, you got it.

Most of the songs from this album are on the long side and ''Confession'' sounds very much as a neo-prog song to say the least. The barrier between cross-over and neo being very adaptable for ''Overhead''. Even vocals are quite alright here! Not talking about the backing band of course. Just sumptuous.

The shortest track is also the most Floydean of the whole. Spacey keyboards, melodic guitar and a great feel indeed. A fine hors d'oeuvre to introduce the long and closing number: ''Zumanthum''.

The problem being that this song is the weakest of this album; very much neo-prog oriented (which is not the problem). Vocals are again disgraceful and the inspiration is quite absent. Only the "finale" is worth.

This album is a very good debut one. Four stars (upgraded from seven out of ten due to the closing number).