EGO EIMI

Ego Eimi's third album and aswell the final one from 2005 named The door of the heart is another worthy album from this obscure progressive metal band. This time Alexander Skorobogatov change a bit the direction in musical terms, the sound is more towards Dream Theater is more metalic then previous works, the keybords have now an important role, much better then before, Alexander Skorobogatov have now two guests Ivan Rozmainsky on keybords and Seraphim Skorobogatov on track two is the child voice. Also is an extended version a cover of Mule from legendary Deep Purple with some fantastic guitar arrangements , very good and intristing arrangements here. The album as a whole is better then I'm living but in places again the main problem, the sound is again muddy and mediocre for this kind of musical aproach. Anyway a good album that desearve a wider recognition from progressive metal listners. Goiod ex are the title track The Door of Heart , near 17 of nice and good progressive passges. , I can't give more then 3 stars again, nothing close to a masterpice for sure, but in sted a pleasent album. A good one but far from being for wider auditorium then those who are towards progressive metal. A quite hard to find albums from this band, but aswell if someone wanted to listen to some samples are available on their official site. Enjoy.

Ego Eimi is a word coming from ancient greek language and it means " I am" or " I exist". Alexander Skorobogatov is a russion multi instrumentist and the main ban of the band, or better said the only man of the band decided to borrow this name to his progressive metal band. Ego Eimi was founded in 1998 releasing so far 3 studio albums. I'm living is their second release from 2001 and is quite understadable a very unnoticed band and album. Not many listners know about this band, The music is in places intristing, taken influences from Dream Theater, some folk arrangements, psychedelic passages, a soup of subgenres of progressive rock melted in a good way. The main instrument that is more in front then others is the guitar of course played by Alexander Skorobogatov, some nice and intelligent passages on title track I'm living and aswell the longest tracks from here clocking around 14 min. The druming is ok, the all rest of the instrumentations are ok, many instrumantal passages are here, only here and there are some vocal parts sung in russian by the same Alexander Skorobogatov who is a mediocre vocalist widhout doubt. The main problem of this album is the production, to muddy and very lousy mixed, I mean like a garage band. We talking here about progressive rock and in particular progressive metal in this case, a genre where must sounds all instruments like crystal clear, each instruments must be very clear mixed and with proper studios. I'm not saying this is an unprofesional job, but must've bean much better if was done I don't know diffrent. So a pleasent album in vein of another great russian progressive metal band Azazello and Decadence, but this two band done a better job then Egoi Eimi in both production and ideas. With all that a 3 stars worth this album. A kinda forgotten and unnoticed band in prog metal circles.

1. Underground Earl, Part I. Long track, including "gothic" male vocal, church organ plus dark and majestic atmosphere. Song developes monotonically, and such style of development allows to express "gothic" moods. 4/5.

2. Underground Earl, Part II. Amazing song based on acoustic guitar (to a some extent, in the spirit of Led Zeppelin) plus synth pad and male vocal. Song has "eastern" charm. 5/5.

3. There Is Not Anybody To Drink Tea With. Aggressive song. Not prog, but good song with indie rock touch. 3+/5.

4. Aud Deine Lider... Ballad with very nice melody and "grunge" guitar. Broadly speaking, the only song with "heavy" guitar (unlike latest albums of EGO EIMI). It includes also acoustic guitar solo in "Spanish" style. 5/5.

5. Golem. Epic with complex guitar-playing, emotional vocals and ambient organs. Song may seem sometimes "boring" but (again!) monotonic development probably needs to express "gothic" atmosphere. 4/5.

6. Meek LAdy. Another nice ballad with beautiful melody and "tasteful" electric guitar solo. 5/5.

7. The Silver Lord. Acoustic piece in the spirit of Jethro Tull ballads. 4/5.

8. Transcendental Diseases. Almost absolute masterpiece. Melancholic song with progressive development and amazing guitars. The style of guitar-playing in this song can be named as an "acoustic thrash"! 5+/5.

9. Lament For The Death Of My Cat. Instrumental track based on acoustic guitars and bayan (Russian kind of accordion). Mood of this music reminds (to a some extent) early Pink Floyd. Very mysterious one. Excellent final of excellent album. 5/5.

This album is a very interesting mix between guitar-based progressive rock and gothic rock. A must know for all fans of original progressive rock (except those who prefer only music with frequent changes in measures, tempo and rhythm). This is an excellent album in spite of computer drums which (together with all this recording as a whole) are characterized by very reverberating sound. Latest albums of EGO EIMI are much more prog-metal oriented. Some music can be downloaded at http://www.realmusic.ru/egoeimi http://music.download.com/egoeimi

"The door of heart" is the third studio album of EGO EIMI. This album is a something like a development of "ideas" containing in the second album "I'm living" (2001), but with more emphasis on both prog-metal and and atmospheric elements. However, again we meet with male vocals in Russian (singing Christian lyrics) and very interesting guitar work. But now electric guitar strongly "crowds out" acoustic one.

1. Face-off (6:31)

Ballad in the spirit of Jethro Tull, with nice vocal melody, interesting acoustic guitar play, amazing electric guitar solo and sounds of bayan (Russian kind of accordion).

2. Extended mule (13:19)

Extended version of "Mule" by Deep Purple with very-very long guitar play in the spirit of Malmsteen and Petrucci. A must know for fans of Petrucci. Some keyboard melodies by Lord are replayed by bayan. Unique track.

3. Air abyss mule (4:49)

Instrumental atmospheric keyboard version of "Mule" by Deep Purple with guitar sounds in the spirit of Robert Fripp (click at http://www.realmusic.ru/egoeimi).

4. Detachment (8:37)

Dismal song influenced, to a some extent, by the title track from "Eclissi" album by A Piedi Nudi.

5. At millimetre a year (4:22)

Monotonic rock-song, which can remind even gothic-rock in the spirit of Sisters Of Mercy, but with nice electric guitar solo.

6. The door of heart (16:20)

Prog-metal epic with psychedelic slow parts and "quick" guitar work in the spirit of Petrucci. Again a must know for lovers of guitar magic.

7. Simeon foreknowledge (2:28)

Instrumental atmospheric keyboard intro to the next song. The only composition without guitar sounds.

8. Simeon said (11:12)

The highlight of the album. Tragic and majestic song containing acoustic, thrash and ambient parts.

Conclusion: this album is the unique combination of progressive rock/metal, guitar work a la Petrucci, nice vocal melodies and keyboard-based atmospheric music. The breathtaking material (although drums are programmed).

"I'm Living" is the second album of Ego Eimi, which is the Russian one-man-band (by Alexander Skorobogatov) playing strange combination of progressive metal, folk rock, space rock, psychedelic rock etc. Music of the band is based on (electric and acoustic) guitars, male vocals in Russian (singing Christian lyrics), bayan (Russian kind of accordion) and programmed bass, drums and keyboards.

1. Transfiguration (5:57)

Song which "rocks". Prog with elements of "indie", active electric guitars and strong vocals.

2. I'm living (13:45)

The highlight of the album. The epic song with changing melodies, chords and moods. The "relaxing" pieces are followed by "aggressive" ones, and vice versa. The song has "psychedelic", "mystical" mood. Perhaps, the most exciting piece of this track is the final part which contains "tasteful" guitar solo, perhaps, reminding R. Blackmore and S. Howe

3. My heart waketh (5:30)

Ballad with acoustic guitars and bayan. The song is almost "folk-rock". It has good vocal melody and nice concluding electric guitar solo. Perhaps, the track may remind Jethro Tull folk-oriented songs.

4. Light of the unearthly day (5:03)

Roughly speaking, "Jethro Tull meets Metallica". But this "meeting" is very surprising, and this song is one of the best ones.

5. Night of Ukrainian steppes (8:00)

Again song with "heavy", even "thrash" guitars. Nevertheless, this song has very good vocal melody and is characterized by plenty of breaks and tempo changes

6. Elixirs (7:03)

Another ballad. Again a lot of acoustic guitars and vocals. And again nice electric guitar solo.

7. Underground earl Pt. III (4:29)

This song is more simple and "rock-oriented". Nevertheless, it is characterized by interesting combination of acoustic guitars and electronics. 8. The Great Friday (8:30)

The only purely instrumental track. It is about Christ Passions. Dark prog-metal reminding, however, Metallica and King Crimson. Electronic keyboards somewhere remind work of Jordan Rudess in "The Great Debate" from "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" by Dream Theater. Again a plenty of breaks and tempo changes. However, the track has not only "heavy" pieces. The middle part of the track includes very soft and nice episode played by guitar and bayan. As a whole, it is another highlight of the album.

Conclusion: a very good album containing original and nice music. The only disadvantage is the lo-fi production due to limited finances. The most quick way to know more about this music is to click at http://www.realmusic.ru/egoeimi

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