HERETIK VOLUME I: BODY OF ACCUSATIONS

The triumphant comeback of Nathan Mahl of didn't slip through the organizers of big prog events and in May 99' the band was given an invitation to perform among the bands of the Nearfest 1999 in the place of the disbanded Finneus Gauge.At the end of the year several facts surfaced with Guy LeBlanc releasing his debut solo album and being proposed a place in the line-up of Camel, whom he joined in 2000.Original guitarist Mark Spenard joined the band again in the place of Jose Bergeron, while his brother Alan Bergeron quit from his duties during the recordings of the next album, feeling that Nathan Mahl was slowly becoming a studio project.LeBlanc played the rest of the drums for the new work ''Heretik volume I - Body of accusations'', released in 2000, telling the story of a man, as he awaits his trial for crimes against society.

Nathan Mahl would sink deep into the progressive waters with this album, as three out of possible six tracks are longer than 10 minutes, highlighted by the 21-min. ''Heretik part I''.Actually it doesn't get much more HAPPY THE MAN-like than this album, Nathan Mahl pay a tribute to the mass of 70's bands, which played a quirky, inventive Progressive Rock with both symphonic and jazzy overtones, as LeBlanc displays a monstrous performance on organ, synths and piano throughout.Imagine a mix of GENESIS, CAMEL, BRIAN AUGER'S OBLIVION EXPRESS and GREENSLADE as a detailed set of influences and sounds for this work and get prepared to listen to challenging, dense and virtuosic musicianship with beautiful interludes, grandiose textures and lots of jazzy overtones.In fact LeBlanc oftens overpowers the material with some furious, smoky synth soloing, you get a taste of a DEREK SHERINIAN/JORDAN RUDESS atmosphere during thIs noodling, but as a main composer he was also responsible for the well-crafted, refined arrangements on this album with the obvious symphonicism of the old bands.Nathan Mahl's music is filled with inventive breaks and keyboard changes, some accurate guitar chops and a solid rhythm section, the band even rocks at times and the material explores a range of different sounds, some extended Fusion pyrotechnics to go along with Classical elements and the complexity of the original prog movement.Very few vocals in the process, ''Heretik volume I - Body of accusations'' is first and foremost an album of an instrumental fest with emphasis on demanding orchestrations.

A great little pearl from the early-00's, seemingly getting a bit lost into a labyrinth of instrumental tricks, but containing overall excellent and well-plated material.Strongly recommended, very good mix of symphonic and Fusion stylings...3.5 stars.