MOSQUITO

"Mosquito"is Psychotic Waltz' third studio album. Unfortunately, while it is still great, it can't really tie in with the last 2 releases. Furthermore, except you have the re-mastered version, the sound is really bad. Not astonishing, considering the time and that this band wasn't very popular and couldn't afford a fantastic studio.

From track 1 to 9 there is really little variation neither in the tracks nor between the tracks.

Where is the earlier complexity and variety? What happened to the perfect blend of heavy and complex parts and the harmonic and atmospheric sessions?

It turned to a quite psychedelic metal monotony, maybe a bit exaggerated but compared to the other albums, it is true.

But track 10 is really a highlight. Actually there are 2 songs. The first song is 6 minutes long and the second track, which starts at 8:20, is 1 minute and 50 seconds long. The second track is an incredible piece of psychedelic music, very eldritch! The first track is very psychedelic as well. It starts soft with the original, progressive and perfectly fitting vocals of Buddy Lackey and an awesome atmospheric solo. Afterwards it turns into a heavy and complex section.

The musicians are awesome, especially the drummer with his innovative and varied pieces. But, the amazing Buddy Lackey as well, who is most important for the distinctive sound of Psychotic Waltz or the guitarist and the bassist, delivering a great job!

At least if you are caned this album is really great. Nevertheless this is a really good album, but the other albums, e.g. "A Social Grace", are a far more rewarding investment!

Yes this is less complex than their previous records, but the riffs are heavier, and this is far more melodic, making this album a lot more accessible.

The first song "Mosquito" will be playing in your head long after you have heard it. It has such a groove to it, heavy drums, bass and guitar riffs. "Lovestone Blind" opens with crunchy guitars and heavy drums, followed by the great vocals of Buddy Lackey, who sounds a little bit like the ALICE AND CHAINS singer on this song. Great tune ! "Haze One" makes it three fantastic songs in a row. This one features lighter drums, vocals and guitars, it grooves. Your head will bob and your feet will be tapping. It's like a lazy summertime tune.

"Shattered Sky" introduces us to the flute, followed by fragile vocals that are eventually shattered by bone crushing riffs. The mood gets mellow again (more beautiful flute) only to be buried this time for good by a wall of sound, ending with scalding guitars. "All The Voices" is a different style again. Great chorus that goes "follow me into the sun". Lots of variety on this record. "Dancing In Ashes" is fast paced with ripping guitars. "Only Time" is dark and heavy, with filthy guitar solos and the vocals are outstanding. "Locked Down" is so melodic, a real head banger. The closing song "Mindsong" has lots of time changes. It starts out with almost a reggae feel to the beat. The guitars sound like they are speaking, then the song totally changes, what a ride.

If you like FATES WARNING or melodic Prog-Metal, please find this record, you'll wear it out. It's awesome !

I bought this album already a couple of years ago and I've to say that though I haven't listened to it for a long while I still like it very much. "Mosquito" was still a quite decent release by one of the best (unknown) 90's prog metal bands. But on the other hand it was certainly by far not on par anymore with their first two ones. Quite obviously they turned towards a more accessible style with this one, most of the prog elements in their music had decreased here to an absolute minimum in favour of an easier, popular psychedelic and doomy sound, almost a bit like stoner metal, but much better of course than by common bands from this sub-genre. Unfortunately, due to the production Buddy Lackey's vocals are too often suffocated by a thick droning bass sound, which is really a pity. Still this record has to offer a few rather good tracks as "Haze One" with a nice section in the middle slightly reminding to their previous works, the two sampled pieces "All The Voices" and "Mind Song" as well as "Only Time". "All The Voices" features some flute sound like "Scattered Sky" (which is a better one as well) but sounds more inspired than that one having keyboards even as a leading instrument. "Only Time" has a quite typical Psychotic Waltz-sound and here the guitar play can be even compared to earlier works. Last track "Mind Song" consists in fact of three parts (including a "hidden track" after 8:20), first two minutes with a pleasant acoustic guitar sound, then the quite heavy main part until 6:00 and after a silence there's still one with atmospheric keyboard tunes. Although this one sounds a bit incoherent it's still one of the more interesting tracks on here. ""Lovestone Blind" and "Locked Down" have to be considered quite bottom ones for a band like them and almost not worth mentioning. "Mosquito", "Cold" and the short uptempo one "Dancing in the ashes" (sounding very Sabbath-alike) are still okay without being really great neither.

As a summary I've to say that "Mosquito" was a decent and nice album by Psychotic Waltz but unlike their first two ones not to be considered an essential one in prog metal. Actually I decided to sell my copy and ordered instead its re-release combined in a box together with their debut which is certainly much more rewarding in a long run.

"Mosquito" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US, San Diego based progressive metal act Psychotic Waltz. The album was released through Bullet Proof Records in July 1994. It´s the successor to "Into The Everflow" from 1992. "Mosquito" does not feature any lineup changes since the precessor, but bassist Ward Evans would leave Psychotic Waltz shortly after the completion of the album. The band picked Scott Burns to produce "Mosquito", which was considered an odd choice at the time, as Burns was mostly known for his work with death- and thrash metal acts like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Obituary, Sepultura, and Demolition Hammer...

...and "Mosquito" indeed features a very different sounding production compared to the sound productions on the two predecessors. "Mosquito" features a bottom heavy dark sound, but it´s a sound which suits the new direction of the material well. Because if the different sounding production job was a big change for some fans, the songwriting on "Mosquito" could also prove to be a bit of a challenge.

Both "A Social Grace (1990)" and "Into The Everflow (1992)" featured nonlinear and structurally challenging compositions, although both were also melodic and catchy. "Mosquito" is a very different beast, as most tracks on the album follow a relatively normal vers/chorus formula, and the progressive structures and techncial playing of the two predecessors have been considerably toned down. Some tracks like the album opening title track (nice toying around with time signatures on this one), "Cold", and especially the off-beat rhythm 10 minutes long (don´t get fooled by the length though as there are a couple of minutes of silence before a short hidden track ends the track) closing track "Mindsong", still feature sections which are quite progressive in nature, while tracks like "Dancing In The Ashes" and "Locked Down" are basically pretty regular vers/chorus based heavy metal tracks, with very little in common with what most people would perceive as progressive metal. The band´s trademark lead guitar harmonies have also been decreased. They are still there, but typically used more sparsely and for atmosphere enhancement.

Psychotic Waltz are still an exceptionally well playing band and although their musical direction and overall sound have changed quite a bit on "Mosquito", the music on the album is still unmistakably the sound of Psychotic Waltz. The psychadelic edge, the technical finésse, and Buddy Lackey´s distinct sounding, strong and paatos filled vocals, give that away immediately. Psychotic Waltz were on a ever changing musical journey in their original run, and all four albums from that era are very different sounding. The first two are the most progressive and original, but "Mosquito" is still a strong and original sounding progressive metal album and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

Mosquito is fav Psychotic Waltz album ever

Psychotic Walts is a very intristing prog metal band ( I don't know why they are considered tech/extreme metal band) who released only 4 album 'till they disbanded in late 1996. The sound anyway is carried on on another similar band from now days Dead Soul Tribe , where the vocalist manage to creat something similar and aswell intristing. Now about Psychotic Waltz music, and specially this album, is less complex and because of that in places is more accesible, but of course as a whole is a prog metal album of the highest calibre. THis is the first album I've heared from them , and was exactly when came out, 15 years ago, imagine taht, impressed than , not highly impressed about his band and specially this Mosquito. Many prog metal reviewers said that first two albums are the best and because of that they are two of the classics of the genre, but I'm going with this one Mosquito to be their best and the most accompliced Psychotic Waltz album. The musicianship is top notch showing that even with a more accesible metal they can create something of a real intrest. The album is full of great harmonies made by the excellent guitar players Brain McAlpin and Dan Rock interplayed brilliant with Buddy Lackey super and powerfull voice and superb key passages through the album made aswell by him.Norm Leggio is a great drumer , remind me in places from Hoglan (ex Death and Dark Angel) very sure of what he does there, very confident and full of surprises all the time. The metalic atmosphere melted very well with some very fine and smooth arrangements like on Shattered sky and Mind song (with an intro a la Pink Floyd, smooth and elegant), two of the best pieces from here and among the best they ever created, excellent atmosphere and musicianship, the rest are ok full ogf great ideas.So as whole , for me is an excellent album that every fan and prog metal listner must hear, a masterpice in my opinion, that desearves a full 5 stars. Better than the first two, but as I said is just my opinion here. Recommended highly, in my top 10 prog metal albums ever.

What is Psychedelic Metal Anyway?

I really wish I had known about Psychotic Waltz when they were releasing albums. I would have obsessed over them as I was on a quest for metallic psychedelia and frankly very little qualified in those days. PW's old website is still up and you can still download free mp3's from it, and this was how I was introduced to the band's sound. One of those songs was the title song from MOSQUITO which I later ordered bundled with A SOCIAL GRACE. The two albums, as many have mentioned, contrast quite a bit. While the debut uses more tech metal and prog ideas, by MOSQUITO Devon Graves, er, Buddy Lackey, and company had developed their sense of melody and composition by quite a bit. Without a doubt, the music is easier, but it's also more textured, better recorded, and simply more listenable.

It must be pointed out that this album still relies on classic metal tonalities and ideas. The heavily reverbed guitars use a dated distortion and Graves / Lackey's vocal delivery still is very much rooted in the classic metal mold. (His current vocals with Dead Soul Tribe almost seem to come from a completely different singer.) The darkness of an Alice in Chains combined with a more classic metal sound of Iron Maiden or Queensryche would describe the band on this record, but really nothing else I'm aware of sounds quite like this. The drums are much more syncopated than most metal, though they remain in straight time. The bass is clear in the mix, filling a big space in the mix. The twin guitars intertwine for moody accents as much as soloing, showing how much grunge had influenced music at the time of this release.

Graves' flutework here is great where it appears "Shattered Sky," but as always I wish there was more of it. It is a truly unique part of this music, completely out of left field in 1994 but sounds great. Similarly, the psychedelic funk-reggae of "Mindsong" looked forward by years, and still holds up better than some of the other PW songs. Sadly, none of this propelled the band into a high enough profile for this Midwestern Metal fan to get a chance to know them when they would have been a colorful delight.

3/5 stars. Good music, but limited prog elements. Its innovative ideas from 15 years ago are not as surprising today. Recommend for traditional metal fans, prog or not.

On Mosquito Psychotic Waltz made quite a turn, away from their earlier complexity, shedding a lot of the shredding and exuberance in return for focused and at times even groovy songs. Depending on how you appreciate the preceding albums this might either be your favourite or least favourite PW album.

This album has gone through quite a change in my appreciation. At the time of its release it fought for the top 1 in my 1994 year list against Skyclad's Prince of the Poverty Line (a band that is surprisingly absent from Prog Archives by the way). I was huge on grunge at the time and on this album Psychotic Waltz almost sounded as if they wanted a piece of the big grunge-cake.

In the ensuing years I found myself listening less and less to this album as it failed to continue captivating my attention. I though every track to be quite alright still but too straightforward and sterile. I missed the big harmonic soloing, the adventurous song writing, the passion and most of all the unique vocal approach of Buddy Lackey. On this album he mainly just sings along with the riffs instead of bringing entirely different melodies.

Now hearing it back for this review after a good 5 years without playing it the disappointment is even bigger. Despite the good song writing, the continuous slow pace and lack of daring ideas on this album make it sound weary and exhausted.

On their next and final album they would gain some of their flashing extravaganza back. Here I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. Maybe I should check out the remaster. With just a slight improvement to the sound I might still upgrade to 4.

An album that too often settles into safe territory, but there are shining moments on "Mosquito".

"Mosquito" is undoubtedly for this reviewer the worst of the 4 Psychotic Waltz albums, and they raised the bar so high with "Into The Everflow" that this is a major let down. There seems to be something missing here that is unmistakeable when one listens to the 4 albums back to back of this incredible legendary band.

It is not until I got to the third track that I even felt remotely interested. The sound is so different and less technical to the previous masterpiece. There are still some wonderful moments and I have to mention Haze One as one of the definitive highlights. A terrific lead break, aggressive riffs and powerhouse vocals drive it into your skull.

The quiet acoustic and flute on the following track Shattered Sky is a welcome change to all the intense metal. The gentle vocals are multi tracked as always and sound peaceful. The distorted riff locks in on the choruses, and there is a sense of tension and release as the flute chimes in over the verses. The melody line is quite beautiful in the ambient moments.

Cold has some inspired lead breaks but the vocals are sounding very similar and there is not enough variation. The multi tracked style is always present, and the riffs are overlayed and too dirty and I detest fade outs on metal songs.

Hopefully the next song will be as good as PW's first albums. I listen with patience to All The Voices and I hear, a weird psychedelic carnival sound. Okay this is better, the vocals are estranged and have psych prog lyrics, "follow me into the day, won't you open the eyes of your mind, follow me into the sun, all of my friends will be with me again." The keyboard motif that make this sound unique is welcome. The whammy bar works overtime with lead flourishes, then it fades out before it has a chance to progress. Why? Where is the technical excellence and time sig wizardry of "Into The Everflow" or the debut?

The next track Dancing in the Ashes, has a fantastic fast and frantic riff driving it headlong. The vocals are more intense, and furious, the riffs are wonderful in the chorus and the lead break has some speedy little licks that are worth emulating. A highlight at last on the album, but it is only 2:31 in length! I don't get it!

Next a slow crawling moaning track that grows on you eventually, Only Time, ironically with a simple time sig overall. I don't mind this at all. The riff is rather Sabbath like and morbid. The twin lead break is sensational , perhaps the best from the twin lead virtuosos. Then it fades, I wish the guy on the fade out button was vaporised at this stage. It is a commercial device and not necessary for a band like this, effectively killing any chances of the band to break out into lengthy instrumentals or innovative time changes.

Next on the agenda is Locked Down and the riff is great, stopping dead while Lackey's vocals rave on; "You better lock it down, well come on down, down , better lock it down, better lock it down, locked down, low to the ground, this town is burning down, so you better lock it down etc etc etc". Anyway, the lead break is quite good though way too short. This is a repetitive song with too many vocals and not enough innovation but it doesn't fade out at least.

Mind Song is the longest track at 6:08 so I was hoping for a myriad of time sig changes and complexity as with their last 2 albums. It begins with a Pink Floyd type feel, the melody sounds spaced out, the vocals are quite good. There is even a reggae style on guitars. The keyboards dominate for a while, then there is a very nice lead solo. The psychedelic sound is strong and it builds to a new time sig, hooray! The half time feel is really a song within a song but delightfully reminiscent of the usual Psychotic Waltz complexity. This is the problem. The band are capable of brilliance and too often settle into a safe straight metal sound. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you want, but with Psychotic Waltz who are renowned for tech metal, most fans would be expecting the same technical excellence of the first 2 albums. The last song then is a real highlight, and even features a wah wah lead motif while a sustained lead solo rings over the top. The lead work is astounding and showcase the talents of Rock and McAlpin.

Well there you go. Still a good album but should have been better. Fans did not want an accessible album from the legends of tech metal. But we are stuck with it. The commercial approach did not do the music any favours and really if you compare this to the other 3 albums it is perhaps not worth considering for newbies to the band who may be turned off. It is not very progressive because the band does not utilise their talents in the same way as the first 2 albums. Still, this is a nice add on but definitely does not hold a candle to the other master class albums of the band.

I guess that Psychotic Waltz fans that have been waiting for a followup album to Into The Everflow couldn't have been other than disappointed by what they've heard on Mosquito. Personally, I haven't had the chance of hearing this release until only recently and I was pretty prepared for this album to be a lesser experience compared to the first two releases.

I can definitely hear that Psychotic Waltz have stripped a great deal of their mystery on these compositions, thus leaving us with a pretty straightforward release by their standards. Still, this doesn't mean that there is nothing to enjoy, but merely that the layers of greatness aren't here and what's left can in most cases be considered a product of it's time. Yes, I'm referring to the obvious comparisons to band's like Soundgarden and Jane's Addiction are clearly creeping into the band's otherwise very unique sound. There aren't any of the lengthier tracks, instead the album's time have been divided among a larger number of compositions that are 4 minutes in length on average.

My biggest concern is that there is really no standout tracks among this large number of compositions and those times when Psychotic Waltz decides to do something different it just turns out sounding average at best. You might have guessed by now that I'm not a huge fan of this record. If only the band released their forth album Bleeding before this one, then I would at least have been able to pin point the directional shift between their four releases in a linear fashion and wouldn't have seen Mosquito as a deviation from the norm that it is.

This is a hard album to recommend to anyone who has learned to love Psychotic Waltz through albums like A Social Grace and Into The Everflow but if you feel like the band was way too extravagant for your taste on those records then this record might feel like a nice change of pace. If anything, Mosquito certainly is a grower that will surely make you appreciate it more over time but just don't expect it to be something that it isn't.

***** star songs: Dancing In The Ashes (2:31)

**** star songs: Mosquito (3:14) Lovestone Blind (4:15) Haze One (4:36) Cold (4:25) Mind Song (6:08)

*** star songs: Shattered Sky (4:49) All The Voices (3:04) Only Time (4:37) Locked Down (3:26)