TICKET TO THE MOON

TICKET TO THE MOON, formed in 2003 on a varied progressive basis with its doomy, riff, melodic metal and mood music; their debut saw them open for SAGA. An assembly eyeing the DREAM THEATER, OPETH, KARNIVOOL, PERIPHERY, TOOL, HAKEN, a little further on PINK FLOYD and PORCUPINE TREE; or how to integrate progressive rock into metal. This 3rd entirely instrumental opus, recorded during the Covid, aims to return to their sources of pure progressive metal.

"The Impact" for the almost perfect cinematic intro, a staggering interlude to land without really knowing in which galaxy we will be expelled or which asteroid will hit us! "Elements" for a symphonic metal title with soaring violins and djent guitar; its reverberating, heavy and nasty riff that holds the title all by itself; the variation which follows with a break in rhythm and the violins which return to the charge make it a warm orchestral and symphonic title. "Pulsar B0531+21" interlude with the original sound of a...pulsar telling us, but what precisely, in short, who can decipher it can tell me in ''mp'', its fat, dense on a piano arpeggio- guitar. "Ebb & Flow" aerial piano intro before sinking into another space-time, the one where the musical fusion has precisely taken place; between resistant metal and ventilated metal at the start; at the break the djent begins to come out of its lair; atmospheric, ambient and energetic at the same time, surely chopped with change of tempo, the end wants to be fresher, evolutionary and sympho-aggressive. "St Elmo's Fire" and a reverberating bass for a melodic title based on a crescendo and a tortured djent guitar supported by a keyboard...in flame which becomes more colorful, bringing a notion of musical hope, interesting what some notes can infuse as commentary; "Crossing Skies" continues with this flight of guitar notes which goes, which comes, which becomes aerial, recalling here the work of Devin TOWNSEND for the stacking of notes; alternative modern sound.

"Pulsar B2020+28" second interlude for those who may have found the solution; the sonic trace of a more archaic pulsar which seems to be at the end of its life and a dark, minimal arpeggio. "Xyz" post sound suddenly reminding me of the OCEANSIZE, ambient sound, relaxing; acoustic arpeggio titillating the ears in fact; title vibrating between post spleen and meditative progressive aerial melody. "Origins" continues on this latent post watered down but airy sound, to return to the origin of the sound? The dissonance between bass and arpeggio on a crescendo can make you dream, be careful not to get lost along the way. "Behind the Mist" comes one could hear the drops of the stars falling; ambient sound, arpeggio on this post-cinematic, hypnotic frame, very fashionable nowadays; we have to wait half of the title to have an evolution with a riff and an intense, twirling guitar reminding Aldo NOVA; it goes up again and the sound goes more on HAKEN, TERRAMAZE and TIDES FROM NEBULA with a well done metal crescendo. "Pulsar Punta Salinas Radar" for the outro sound from there, atmospheric sound without editing.

TICKET TO THE MOON does metallic and atmospheric post-rock; between strong metal and ambient rock, post and cinematic creating a singular musical amalgam. A concept album bringing dreamlike landscapes, celestial visions and interesting melodies; album that should not be forgotten because instrumental and surfing on the rock of tomorrow, ultimate fusion between djent, prog and ambient. (chronicle from ProfilProg)

Ticket to the Moon are from Basel, Switzerland, and were formed in 2003 by Daniel Gosteli (drums, vocals, percussion) and Andrea Portapia (guitars, vocals). The band went through several changes until Guillaume Carbonneau (bass) and Matthias Zwick (keyboards) joined in 2007, and this was the line-up that delivered 'Dilemma On Earth' in 2012. 'Ae Sense of Life' is their second album, self- released in 2015. Their PR company describes their sound is a blend of atmospheric-rock with strong metal influences, producing modern, melodic and powerful progressive music influenced by the likes of Enchant, Ayreon and Dream Theater.

They may well indeed have been influenced by them, but that doesn't mean that they are remotely in the same league as any of the above. Musically this doesn't gel as it should, and jars as it moves from one area to another as there is a real lack of continuity. There are times when they capture an almost Meshuggah or System of a Down feeling to what they are doing, and in my mind that is the sort of style they should be concentrating on, as they definitely have talent in that area. But, the main thing against this album is the quality of the vocals, which simply aren't strong enough. If these guys are ever going to make serious inroads into the progressive scene then they need to undertake more work on the arrangements, and get themselves a decent singer.

Swiss band TICKET TO THE MOON was formed back in 2003, with a firm line-up stabilizing in 2007. They are an active live band as well as recording artists, and so far they have two albums to their name. "Ae Sense of Life" is the most recent of those, and was self-released in 2016.

Those fond of concept albums of the kind where the entire album plays out as one composition rather than as a collection of songs should find many interesting points to this second album by these Swiss proggers, and then especially those who tend to fancy a band that, roughly speaking, moves back and forth between later day Floydian landscapes and territories closer to progressive metal of the Dream Theater variety. The vocals are something of an acquired taste however, so those who know they are sensible to the quality of the lead vocals might approach this one with some caution. But apart from that aspect this is a fine album within this subset of the progressive rock genre.

Now, this is a kick ass young band from Switzerland named Ticket to the Moon and their first offer from 2012 named Dilemma on earth. Really pleasent surprised by this debute, the 4 musicians involved here, really know to handle the instruments and create something worth investigated. I was simply amazed how easy they play, and how they manage to combine the more edgy passages with the melodic ones, impressive, they have such a great sense of melody, beautiful guitar works for sure. Also the vocal parts are truly amazing, such strong vocal lines are quite hard to find today. Great druming, excellent song writting, the keyboard player works as a swiss clock and offers some memorable keyboard passages. The guitar parts are truly impressive, the melodic lines are amazing, from mellow floydian like parts to more riffy towards prog metal, this band done it with this album. Forte pieces are to me opening track Earth, A Black & White Picture of a Rainbow with beautiful haunting vocal passages, very strong, Dilemma, in fact all are strong. This is the type of prog metal I like a lot with lots of prog rock influences, is not the kind of never ending shereding neoclassical noodling album like many prog metal bands have in their sound today, is excactly what I like on prog metal, inventive, killer musicianship and excellent vocals. This is a real gem of a debute. 4 stars easy, kick ass album and very nice art work.