ATMOSFEAR

Once again, Germany has produced another amazing, yet totally obscure and (sadly) unheard of progressive metal band, this one going by the name of Atmosfear.

Released six years after their debut three-track single, 'Inside the Atmosphere' could be accused of being another 'generic prog metal' album. And whilst I agree that there isn't really anything new or innovative here... why does there need to be?

While crunchy, heavy, yet melodic guitar riffs are in full flow here, a lot of the music is very keyboard-driven, which makes for some really cool compositions. Songs worth checking out include 'Mysterious', 'Feardrops' and 'Patience', all definitely worth the price if you can find this album reasonably cheap.

Unfortunately, to counter some of the better songs, there are also some very bland and very generic songs here, which really makes the album drag on for a staggering 75 minutes! There is also a rather uninteresting cover of the Beatles' 'Elenor Rigby' which really adds nothing to the record.

Overall, there isn't too much to comment on really. It's a standard prog metal album. Nothing amazingly new, but the good songs definitely make this an album worth having.

Atm0sfear (is this how they pronounce themselves?) has succeeded, while staying within the stylistic confines of Dream Theater-style pompous prog metal, to nevertheless create something original. Tempos are mostly slow, groove is deep, and production spacious - but don't let the song length and titles (Loss of hope, Spiral of Pain) mislead you into thinking this is some kind of a funeral doom album. In fact, it is best thought of as Dream Theater-like - with stellar instrumentation and a crooner of a vocalist - but played in slow-mo and without those pesky thrash and power metalisms. Special mention, as I've said, goes to the vocalist - who is good, like, Queensryche's Geoff Tate good, - but also lyrics, often an afterthought in prog metal. Too bad the band is so obscure I couldn't find the texts. But sound thoughtful enough.

Man, traditional prog metal can't get a critical break this days. Chances are, if you take prog structures of the 70s, marry it to crowd- pleasing melodies of 80s metal and production heaviness of the 90s and add melodic vocals (the so-called Dreamtheater clones) , you won't get much reviews from us here on Progarchives. Too bad for Germany's Atmosfear (they actually write the "o" with a 0), who actually have much to succeed in this genre, including, but not limited to, a very good versatile vocalist, who does an excellent croon. Atmosfear rarely go into speed and instrumental overdrive like Dreamtheater (I think that the often criticized overreach of DT is actually the thing that makes it them, standing apart from everybody else), but these Germans are a real prog metal band, not a power/gothic/death etc metal with prog touches. Melodies and time signatures rarely stay in one place, moving constantly to the point that the thing that ties the song together is a catchy chorus. Sometimes this makes it hard to remember the song itself. Other than that, the usual suspect - lyrics, - and the fact that this album is not exactly original, I have no complaints about Inside the Atmosphere (correct spelling this time), and nor should any prog metal fan.

Rather good, this sophomore effort from German progressive metal band Atmosfear.

Following 6 years from their full length debut, we're taken on a ride into vintage inspired progressive metal territories on this occasion. Lengthy and mostly epic tracks is the name of the game here, with three tracks hitting 10 minutes plus and one of these eventually - including the unnamed bonus segment at the very end - almost reaching the half hour.

Slow to midpaced progressive metal is the stylistic expression of choice, with guitars and keys of various sorts creating contrasts and a good blend of light and dark textures to the soundscapes. Multiple changes in pace, sound and intensity are the compositional weapons of choice, and the overall result sounds like a slowed down, less quirky version of Dream Theater. With enough individuality in riff patterns and guitar sound to escape being regarded as clones though.

And while not a great effort it is a good one - nothing new or truly brilliant, but an effort that most likely will be regarded as a strong release by fans of vintage progressive metal - "Zenith" is well worth checking out if you fancy such a production.

ATMOSFEAR are a five man unit out of Hamburg, Germany. This is their second album, some 6 years after the debut. A new drummer is on board for this one and he's very impressive to say the least. I really feel that these guys have hit one deep here. Lots of atmosphere, heaviness and a great vocalist. This is without a doubt one of my favourite Prog-Metal releases of 2009.

"Beginning" opens with atmosfear (haha) before piano arrives. It blends into "Loss Of Hope" where it kicks in heavily before a minute. Vocals follow. What an uplifting and emotional chorus ! Heavy 4 minutes in with some deep bass lines. Keyboards follow as drums pound. A guitar solo follows. "Generations" is fairly laid back until the heavy drums come in. Vocals follow as it settles again.Tasteful guitar 3 minutes in and some prominant bass. It picks up as vocals return. I like the vocal melodies with that aggressive sound 7 1/2 minutes in. Rough vocals 9 minutes in and then it settles a minute later but not for long. "Reawakening" is an instrumental that opens with piano. It turns heavy a minute in as piano continues.The drumming is so crisp. The tempo picks up 2 minutes in. It settles before 4 minutes before kicking back in a minute later. Nice. Check out the bass and drums 6 minutes in.

It blends into "Scum Of Society" as vocals join the heavy soundscape. Some killer organ in this one. I just love the dark, heavy sound here. It's so uplifting 5 minutes in. Heavy duty after 7 minutes. Heavy riffs 11 1/2 minutes in to end it. "Spiral Of Pain" is the 30 minute closer. Atmosphere early as piano arrives after a minute. So much atmosphere here. Vocals 2 1/2 minutes in then it turns heavy. Some soaring guitar turns into a solo after 7 minutes.The heaviness returns quickly after that. Great sound 11 1/2 minutes in and 13 1/2 minutes in.The vocals are fantastic after 17 minutes. A guitar solo follows. It settles 20 1/2 minutes in as we get a RUSH vibe. Then those amazing vocals return. Strings with piano after 23 1/2 minutes as it settles to end that section. It ends with a pastoral orchestral passage with reserved vocals.

A solid 4 stars and a band that every Prog-Metal fan should check out.

I just discovered this band and I must say i was surprised. Although they have some similar sounds to bands like Dream Theater and even Evergrey, they do have their own unique sound. The vocalist is very good, the melodies throughtout the album are very good. the guitar riffs are well done. The opening track Inside the Atmosphere is one of the best on the album along with the epic song Zephaniah I also enjoyed the song Thinking Progressive. If your into Dream Theater, Darkwater, Circus Maximus then you will enjoy this album.

The description by Progarchives talks about comparison with Evergrey and Vandenplas, two tremendous prog metal bands. So time to check it out, I would say. Well, this appears a great discovery. I like average prog metal, that is not too much in the direction of heavy metal (Wolverine, Savatage at it's toughest) and neither going too mellow (Anathema, Tool in some of their works). Just plain prog metal that's what I like best. And Atmosfear fits exactly in that description. When I saw the tracktimes I already got enthusiastic because there were many long tracks, that predicted progressive potential. And that's exactly how it appeared to be.

Atmosfear deserves much more attention than they got so far on progarchives, so prog metal fans: time to check this one out !! Absolute highlight to me: Zephaniah, fantastic track, all you may expect from prog metal. Only downside is Eleanor Rigby: What on earth ... ??? Well I forgive them. This one is a solid 4 stars.

Another interesting aspect: Oliver Wulff voice sounds somewhat like Khan (Conception, Kamelot) and he is very popular amongst prog metal fans, so... The rest of the band's sound isn't really like Kamelot by the way, Conception comes closer.