BLUEPRINT

This is the second full-length album from Munoch band Deafening Opera, following on from 2009'2 'Synesteria'. Although it is available through Bandcamp it is also available as a properly released CD, which is what I have. The first thing that really strikes the listener is just how polished this is, which both takes the edge off the heaviness but also provides additional emphasis where required. They describe themselves as a cross between Porcupine Tree and Riverside, but there are also plenty of elements of City Boy, 3rDegree and more in an album that is both restrained and in your face, full of Seventies influences yet very much for today, clean and simple yet complex and layered: all at the same time. The first time I played this it brought a smile to my face and each time I have listened to it that has just got bigger.

It is an album that brings in so many influences that different people will classify them in different ways: PA has them marked as 'Heavy Prog', MMA has them as 'Hard Rock' and my personal view is that they are Crossover with elements of Prog Metal. But really, who cares what we call it? In simplistic terms there are just two types of music, good and bad, and this definitely fall into the former. When there is a need for the music to crunch it does just that, but where it needs to be more restrained then yet again it hits the mark. This is a wonderful album, and if you want something that is polished and dynamic while packed full of great songs then this is for you. For more details visit their site at www.deafening-opera.de

Deafening Riffs

Second album from German (+a French) Heavy Proggers Deafening Opera and my first acquaintance with the band; and I am pleased to say what a delightful one it is. Borrowing from both 70s Heavy Prog and the more modern versions of it, they manage to create an album that sounds professional, catchy and well balanced.

Don't get fooled by their softer (and somehow weaker) side as appears on the opener 'Her Decay' (Spock's Beard and Echolyn come to mind) and further down on the French-sung 'Paralelno' (with a beautiful refrain ala Enchant): this is some serious heavy progressive rock balancing on the retro-riffology that Black Bonzo have brought back and on its contemporary polished interpretation of Porcupine Tree, with occasional references directly to legends such as Atomic Rooster and their descendants Bigelf. All done in style, funky mood ('Dripping Hot Chocolate'), led by accomplished singer Adrian Daleore who can deliver from mellow parts to super-harsh bluesy stuff (a real opera singer as the band revealed!), reminding me of the range of Mike Baker of Shadow Gallery (R.I.P.). Marie's keyboards are very discreet, supporting majestically the pounding riffs of Kunkel and Moser, which are some of the best I have heard in prog music through 2013.

The story told I have not been yet able to discover fully, but the concept is that of a personal journey of experiences; '25,000 miles' captures the feeling perfectly, and although a sad story, the music sounds more enthusiastic/dynamic rather than sad and mellow (with above mentioned exceptions). Despite some few weak moments, this is a solid package of heavy-tilted prog rock, modern, professional and passionate.

German band DEAFENING OPERA was formed back in 2006 and released their debut album "Synesteria" in 2009, followed by the EP "25.000 Miles" the following year. "Blueprint" is their second full length production, self released by the band in the summer of 2013.

"Blueprint" comes across as a well planned and recorded excursion into the realm of progressive hard rock of a kind that incorporates details from the bands of yesteryear just as much as from bands of a more contemporary nature. Some of the songs also include elements with more of a mainstream hard rock origin however, and on quite a few occasions it is easy to understand that this is a band that strated out playing progressive metal. The lead vocals will most likely limit the overall appeal of this album, but for those who enjoy the dramatic, theatrical style of vocals used here "Blueprint" will come across as a well made progressive hard rock production.