NOT GREATER THAN YOU

3,5 stars for sure

Does anyone remeber this excellent american band?, who released in 2012 their self titled album who got some very fine reviews world wide , including mine, I guess not many.

But what happen with the band after the debut,Carpe Nota entering in the shadow for quite some years (8 to be more precise) until last year 2020 when a new album pop in my face. The title Not greater than you, issued in summer. A very nice surprise, at least for me, because I liked a lot their debut I decided of course to check this one out without hesitation.

Well, this is with same attitude as on previous album, energic instrumental progressive rock, very well written and played. A new member in the line up, the drumer Mark Cubranich who is with the band from 2013-2014, replacing Phil Derenbecher, also their is some helping hand as guest on drums by John Macaluso.

Musicaly speaking, as I said the band is still in bussines, the opening Not Greater Than You , clocking around 9 min is truly excellent, energic, some brilliant sections , specially the guitars are amazing made by Rubinetti, also the keyboards by Pluta, the sense of melody is always combined with ease with more edgy parts. This is a dynamic release with many changes in tempo.

All in all, for fans of heavy prog, and maybe for those of the more symphonic side of heavy prog. For sure Carpe Nota is a real winner in this realm and for that reason deserve attention. I'm really glad that they didn't stop after debut and continue to put some respectable music nowadays. Beautiful trifold digisleeve. Unfairly unnoticed band.

It's taken eclectic heavy proggers Carpe Nota eight years to follow up their superb self-titled debut, but it's a relief to discover they've delivered another winner. With 2020's `Not Greater Than You', the group (sporting a slightly tweaked line-up after the departure of drummer Phil Derenbecher) deliver a punchy vinyl length set of colourful and relentlessly energetic instrumentals, crossing proudly retro-styled prog with a modern sleekness.

For newcomers to Carpe Nota, how to describe the four piece act? Highly melodic, upbeat and emotionally driven instrumental progressive rock, that mixes in everything from crunchy hard-rocking grunt, classical-tinged dramatics, jazzy diversions and even space-rock jamming, all filled with endlessly joyous and energetic soloing would probably begin to cover it!

For lazy comparisons, the band happily embrace the keyboard flamboyance of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, deliver joyfully symphonic-flavoured guitar soloing ala Camel, allow for King Crimson-like open spaces, technicolour synth swirls gently remind of the Ozric Tentacles, and heavier hints reveal the technical chops of Dream Theater.

Strident opener `Not Greater Than You' attacks with purpose, an up-tempo sprint of Peter Rubinetti's guitars darting between snarling riffing and crisp heroic themes, new drummer Mark Cubranich's flashy percussion rumbles, Ken Sundling's buoyant bass gallops and Dan Pluta's swirling synth whirls. Dan's daughter Christiana opens the twelve minute `Death Rattle' with ethereal gothic sighs, then it's Ozric-flavoured synth loops, chilly Mellotron slivers and staccato guitar grinding. The atmospheric piece frequently reveals a regal and symphonic elegance with skilfully reprising passages throughout.

`Light On the Horizon' percolates with a lively bass introduction before drifting into dreamy synth trills contrasted with gutsier bursts of muscular power. John Macaluso steps in for drum duties for the final two tracks, where `Spidertrap!' almost sounds like Liquid Tension Experiment jamming with Yes with its ragged guitar runs, and the infectious closer `Corona Borealis' bounces with pomp as its races to a frantic finish of nimble synth/guitar duels.

Unpredictable twists and turns full of momentum and power are the order of the day here, and the band offer a vibrant collection of varied musical gems that are constantly unpredictable and full of ideas and alternating styles, all flowing together seamlessly. It's another great effort from the talented Carpe Nota, and instrumental prog fans are in for treat all over again.

Four stars.