ALTERED SYMMETRY

With an album title like "Prologue", I imagine that Altered Symmetry have some pretty heavy long-term ambitions for the future. Although none of the lyrics on this Colombian band's official debut point to any running concept, it's clear that they want to make a statement that transcends a single album. Alas, the ambition of the music itself seems to have taken a hit. Despite some obvious talent and skill boasted by each musician, "Prologue" ultimately feels uneven, half-cooked and unoriginal. Altered Symmetry have not entirely slipped up, but they have some work to do before their ambitions are realized.

Progressive metal has become a surprisingly concrete genre of music, no longer connoting that a band is 'moving forward the sound of heavy metal', but often rather a technically proficient, complex derivative of melodic power metal. Although they escape sounding like a Dream Theater clone in part due to their lack of keyboards, Altered Symmetry fit snugly into this prog-power formula. The rhythm and bass typically serve as a backup to the guitar. Although the riffs display solid skill with the instrument, the guitar parts feel far too comfortable. The production on "Prologue" is fairly weak, obscuring the drums and bass, of which the latter becomes virtually inaudible. Ironically, the drumwork of Leonel Rojas Alvarez is more impressive than the guitars, although it takes a focused ear to make out everything he's doing in the muddy mix.

The middle of the album arguably makes up the strongest material that Altered Symmetry have to offer here. "The Longest Journey" is my favourite tune here, taking a break from the chugging power metal guitars in exchange for smooth acoustic guitars, revealing the band's cultural heritage. Above all, Arley Gomez's voice is the strongest aspect of Altered Symmetry. He sounds like a cross between Bruce Dickinson and Rhapsody's Fabio Leone. He has a powerful, quasi-operatic voice, and it works with the band's style very well. Unfortunately, Gomez's vocals are the only thing about Altered Symmetry I'd be able to call 'great'. The rest of it- while promising- fails to move me. Forgettable songwriting and weak production have a way of making impressive musician sound all that less impressive.

Well made and well performed progressive metal of the accessible variety is what Altered Symmetry provides on "Prologue". A production that will most likely find favor amongst power metal and progressive metal fans both, and while not representing anything innovative or the highest degree of excellence in any department, it is a well made and well performed disc that, I presume, will be well liked by those with a specific interest in this type of music.