AQUARIUS

This debut CD in 2010 - was completely under my radar - until I was enthralled by the music that my youngest son was playing in his bedroom - It got my attention and I asked him what is was - he said Haken and that he had ordered the CD, Aquarius. The CD arrived and I burnt a swift copy for my car (I never risk the original CD in my car) - Anyway, this English prog metal band have produced an incredible debut, quite stunning actually ! Blending elements of Dream Theater with Flower Kings/Pendragon/Twelfth Night and Pallas (I can catch glimpses of all these bands within this CD). the most obvious influence is DT, but the music is truly mesmeric in some parts. I especially like the use of mellotron-style chords, which are extensively used to pick out the background to bombastic power chords. There is no turkey or filler in the 72 minutes, just solid prog-metal with more emphasis on the symphonic progressive rock style rather than the thrashier side. If they can produce more in the same vein and perhaps get even more bombastic (for me !) then the next CD is a sure-fire winner. The muscianship is excellent and the twiddly-bits have grown on me and I love the singer which is a big plus - a bit of growling does not detract because I think it's appropriate where added. I think that this CD is a must for anybody into prog-metal - a new band that isn't afraid to mix power and melodic counter ballads. It hjas grown into a five star for me in three spins, mind you I loved tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5 immediately, and tracks 6, 1 and 7 have been "growers" - what a debut! Add it to you CD collection now.