RE:SEARCH

It took four years from the debut for Polish Prog Metal act Retrospective to release their second, and then another five for this their third, so let's hope that they don't keep on this progression as I really don't want to wait for six years until the next one! There is a real mix of melody and metal combined with rock sensibilities and passion that makes this album stand out from many others within the genre. It is just about impossible to make a comparison with other bands, but possibly the closest would be Muse or Porcupine Tree, but even that's not fair on either band. One of the things that makes this album is the way that they have managed to bring so much space into the compositions, so much so that there are times when the instruments seem miles apart, as opposed to all being in the same room. This allows the listener to listen to the music as well as all the minute details of what everyone is doing.

This is real 'grown up' progressive music, that has so much to offer anyone who enjoys the genre. Good vocals, with all the lyrics in in strong English, this is album that deserves to be given full attention, as opposed to something being played in the background. I've lost track of the great Polish bands I've heard over the years, and only hope that these guys will gain the attention they deserve, as this is a goody.

Polish band RETROSPECTIVE was formed back in 2005, with Robert Kusik and Maciej Klimek as the principal members. they have since develop into a six man strong crew that now has one initial EP and three studio albums to their name. "Re:Search" is their most recent production, and was released in 2017 through German label Progressive Promotion Records.

On their third studio production, Polish band Retrospective create music rather far removed from what their band name might suggest. This is dark, atmospheric laden modern progressive rock with the occasional bite of progressive metal, explored in concise compositions of the kind that does have something of a "post something" feel to them in terms of mood and atmosphere. Fans of later day Riverside and those who tend to enjoy the material of bands such as Porcupine Tree and, at least to some extent, Muse, should take note of this band in general and this album in particular.

A Polish band that I stumbled upon with the amazing music in their free downloads offered from their initial EP debut release back in 2007, the band has, in my opinion, never quite lived up to the tremendous potential of those first songs. They are good, they are polished, they have a formula, but their sound production and creative ideas have not progressed commensurately. Nice to hear a strong female vocalist in the mix, and lead singer Jakub Roszak has the gift of a distinctive voice but it just hasn't been used to its potential--he does not let loose and impress like he did on "Regret and Frightened Child" and "Enemy World Vision."

01. Rest Another Time" (5:04) Standard heavy prog opening turns interesting when all but bass and drums drop out while Jakub sings. Nice vocal. I just wish the heavier sections would do more, present more subtleties and flourishes. Choral vocals in third minute. Best part of the song is the extended bass focus in the fourth minute followed by Jakub's long vocal notes and some nice keyboard support. More of this, please! (8/10)

02. "Right Way" (4:51) piano and synth open this one, before drums and bass join in (with a disco beat!) almost giving it a Post Rock feel. Nice to hear Beata's female voice in the background--and, later, being used in some lead capacity. Some nice melodic lead guitar in the fourth minute followed by Jakub finally stretching out his voice. (8/10)

03. "The End Of Their World" (4:49) Jakub's laughs over the crystalline keyboard and the following semi-growls make this song slightly better than a standard heavy rock emission. (8/10)

04. "Roller Coaster" (5:04) nice piano base with brushed drums over which Beata sings a relaxed lead while Jakub backs her. Unfortunately, the lead melody in the verse sections sounds like Lisa Stansfield or Des'ree. The choruses with Jakub's emotional lead are good. (8/10)

05. "Heaven Is Here" (5:44) high octave guitar arpeggio is used for the first 30 seconds to start and found the song. When Jakub starts to sing at the end of the first minute, his whispery warble sets up nicely over a simple rhythm section and synth wash base. Guitar arpeggi return to the mix at 1:45, and then Beata takes turns alternating lead and background with Jakub. Nice atmosphere if fairly simple. The song ultimately fails due to its development being too much like metal by numbers--again, the power chords are too straightforward, too predictable, too simple. (7.5./10)

06. "Look In The Mirror" (4:47) opens with drums, bass and piano providing the foundation before Jakub enters at 0:35. Amazing how similar his voice/singing style are to that of URIAH HEEP's first vocalist, David Byron. Nice guitar solo toward the end. (7/10)

07. "Last Breath" (4:23) starts out as perhaps the heaviest song on the album, more in the vein of the sound that this band started with. 90 seconds into the song and nothing very interesting has happened--and then Jakub does some talk semi-growling with his own background track as the music stutter steps, and, later, creates some space for a background tremolo guitar solo to flit around. Return to the heavier section. Again, I keep waiting, hoping for Jakub to do something extraordinary (as I know he can). (8/10)

08. "Standby" (4:19) rock backbeat with piano and guitar interplay creating a melodic weave before Jakub enters. Piano is the dominant chord and melody holder here. Beata takes over the lead for the chorus. Nice! I like this one! Nice piano work. She even gets the song's solo--with her piano. Nice! (8.5/10)

09. "The Wisest Man On Earth" (7:32) a long, slow development of foreboding sound builds and marches through all obstacles for four and a half minutes before it relents in lieu of a slower, more spacious and atmospheric section. Guitar solo in the fifth minute builds into something more in the seventh minute. The crescendo of sound in the final minute is great followed by a nice, long 15-second decay. Best song on the album! Dark, Gothic, heavy prog as it should be. Reminds me of the FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM. (9/10)

Still so much unfulfilled potential. Take more risks! Be not afraid to experiment, to make mistakes!

3.5 stars; a well made, nice sounding contribution to the heavier side of progressive rock but recommended only to those with specific interests into the Heavy Prog or Gothic Prog subgenres.