ZARAVÁSH

I decided to lend an ear once again to some newer Brazilian bands and fell over the name ZARG. Apart from this site here and one German one with reviews quite contradictory to each other I could hardly find any references about them in the web. Here we have two short ones with 5 stars and on the German site I read a very (badly written) negative one concentrating mainly on the admittedly very low quality of vocal performance. So actually what can be expected from this work and is it something to recommend at all? Let's start with the positive points like the musicianship for example which is absolutely top notch and could be rated certainly with 4 stars. Second positive thing of this record is its versatility and the very good balance between guitar and keyboards. The compositions are ranging from mellow acoustic ones ("Soul", "Wake Up Fools") over nice symphonic rock sometimes with a blues touch ("Night In The Tavern") to even lengthy jam like parts like in the final track (one that I don't prefer actually). Apart from the title track there are hardly any weak ones present speaking solely about the music I've to say, altogether something between YES, PINK FLOYD and DREAM THEATER in a more gentle vein. But mentioning YES I've to come to the vocal performance on here. Alexandre Siqueira has an extremely high-pitched voice similar to Jon Anderson which would be no problem at all. Unfortunately it does not have any comparable quality to his. Strictly spoken it's sometimes completely out of tune and unbearable to the ears. Really too bad and almost a pity that due to this "Zaravash" cannot be considered as the excellent record that it would be if only the band would have chosen a different singer.

Despite my low rating (to compensate slightly the obvious overrating here) I've to say that ZARG is a promising South American band with highly talented musicians that would just need a better vocalist to be considered as essential. I could honestly recommend this album only to the ones being not too allergic against bad vocals as well as not expecting too much innovation.

Zarg is a brasilian progressive rock band formed around mid 90's and releasing so far a single album in 2002 named zaravash. The music this bands play is a combination of eclectic moments and some symphonic passages here and there. Yes and spacey moments not far from Pink Floyd or Nektar (see on title track , part II the longest part) in places meets some more metalic bands like Dream Theater. The music is ok to my ears, nothing bad here, but nothing over the top aswell, some very good moments are on Uga uga or die, an elaborated piece with nice vocals and great instrumental passages. Nothing more to add, just a pleasent album, quite promiseing in his own way, but without many notable chacy tunes, someting is missing overall. Anyway 3 stars, one of the forgotten bands from Soth America, even the band is still active and play from time to time here and there in their native country, they didn't release a second album so far. Is needed a new material because with this one, we prog listners expect someting better and even more intristing to find in this band.

Zarg started in 1993/94 from Pouso Alegre in Brazil, originally named Mr. Wizard and featuring Alexandre Siqueira on vocals/flute/guitar, Leonardo Coutinho on guitars, Christian Valias on drums and Geraldo Moraes on bass.After a demo release in 1997, its producer Edgard de Brito joins them on keyboards and a second demo follows in 1999.Around the time the line-up underwent a significant lifting, followed by the change of name to Zarg. Valias and de Brito left their posts to Anderson Alarca and Nelio Porto, the later being a member of the 90's Recordando o Vale das Maçãs line-up.In 2002 Zarg released their debut album ''Zaravash'' on the native label Progressive Rock Worldwide in December 2002.

Zarg seem to have been influenced by a variety of Progressive Rock bands, scanning diverse styles and ending up to being the closest comparison to Swiss band ZENIT.During the first few listenings they sound like a talented Neo Prog act, building their style on angular and slightly symphonic synthesizers, expressive vocals, electroacoustic textures and series of impressive rhythmic guitars and melodic soloing.But this album has a few more notes to reveal in the process.The keyboard playing becomes extremely quirky at moments, the rapid tempo changes indicate a band with a love towards complex structures and the guitars often settle in more Fusion solos with a more virtuosic delivery.As a result the band eventually sounds like a Prog Rock version of DREAM THEATER, respecting the symphonic acts of the past and upgrading their style with a few Jazz/Fusion lines.Most of the tracks are long, well-arranged and captivating with numerous thematic moves, retro aesthetics and complex songwriting.The 14-min. ''Uga uga or die'' seems like the absolute pinnacle of the album, extremely interesting piece with both laid-back and frenetic textures, powerful executions and a vast palette of soundscapes.In fact everything flows pretty nice until the last track, another 14-min. composition, entitled ''Zaravash part II'', this time influenced more by KING CRIMSON, which is rather tiring and uninspired, based on pre-recorded vocal tapes, experimental effects and an atmosphere somewhere between Fusion, Post Rock and Experimental Rock.Completely out of the general atmosphere and rather uninteresting, excessive performance.

Over the following years the band underwent again several line-up shakes with Alarca joining Prog Metallers SupreMa and the rest of the band quiting, leaving Geraldo Moraes as the only original member.He refreshed Zarg with Dario Mascaro on keys, Tiago Ferreira on vocals, Rafael Alves on drums and Leonardo Paulisto on guitars and Zarg kept playing live, at least until 2010.

This is some emphatic Progressive Rock for the most of its part.Complicated, challenging and energetic with decent structures, mainly blinking on the Neo/Symphonic Prog category with a fair dose of Fusion exercises included.Recommended.