Three different angles of looking at progmetal.
Crown Lands - Fearless
The orgins of Progmetal? well you better read Jef Wagner's Mean Deviation to have extended input on that discussion. For me the first candidates I heard in the seventies are the first Uriah Heep albums and the Rush epic albums. Now Rush stayed always great but for many their peak was at the Caress/2112/Kings/Hemispheres era. For those fans the opening track Starlifter: Fearless Pt.II with 18:22 minutes holds everything you might have missed over the past 45 years. Is this a copycat or a very good band? For me the latter and what is more impressive they are a duo. The remainder of the album is also very much old Rush style, with in Right Way Back some Led Zep blended in. This is the second full lenght by Cody Bowles and Kevin Comeau after also four EP's and one live album. I don't know how many times per year you can talk about a candidate for album of the year, but this late discovery made me very happy as it should put all 70's Rush fans a smile on their face.
66Crusher - Limbo
These Norwegians play Progressive thrash metal according to Metal Archives. I do hear some traces of thrash, but in general it is progmetal of the heavier kind. Exactly up my alley so to say and with vocals being strong too this is another winner. This also is another band that exists over 20 years with Limbo being their 4th full lenght. Released in Feruary this year I only recently bumped into them while surfing the internet. Makes you wonder how many bands must be out there, you love or would love if only knowing of them. Not all is painted Black coming out of Bergen.
DHG - Black Medium Current
DHG or Dodheimsgard are also new in my CD collection, but I knew of them long time and saw them playing Musicon a few years ago. That was an interesting set and this new album is a great journey for the open minded music lover. They started of as a Black Metal band, while nowadays avant-garde prog is heavily blended in. This mix is leading to some beautiful atmospheric pieces, which can blast full out at times. Most songs have plenty of time to build up and calm down. An album to play many times, before grasping all and recommended for those who dare to appreciate the different..
No comments:
Post a Comment