BEYOND FALLEN DREAMS

Modern Indonesian Prog by this group formed in 1999 as Voltaire and changing the name to Vantasma a couple of years later.They started as a five-piece keyboard-less core with dual guitars and a sound closer to the standards of Dream Theater and were pretty much a live beast for some years.After a few years they seem to have completed their activities due to massive line-up changes, then a came a proposal by a producer to perform at the Progressive Nite festival, setting them on fire again.At the time they were operating with founding members Arindra Ragasti (aka Gaga) on drums and the recently recruited for the second time Edi Fitri Gunara on guitars plus singer Taufik Ismail (aka Opik) and new members Anggito Rastu Rihadi (aka Gig) on bass and Jacky Suranto on guitar.They entered their own studio in March 2006 with keyboardist and producer Welly M. Siahaan and recorded their debut ''Beyond fallen dreams''.

From rumored Dream Theater wannabees Vantasma had changed their status to a full-blown Prog Rock band with heavy, symphonic and Neo Prog overtones, writing and performing very long, epic and dramatic tracks with monster changes in tempos and climates and always offering delicate melodies inbetween.I am mostly reminded of Dutch TRIANGLE and a bit of Polish Prog listening to their debut, which contains some obvious vibes from 70's- and 80's-Prog, combining some organ sets next to the omnipresent synthresizers.Maybe CAMEL and GENESIS from the 70's and IQ from the 80's are the best decriptions for a group, that found itself comfortable in mixing epic, instrumental passages, filled with organ and guitar leaks, with bombastic synth showering and more laid-back electric solos, featuring a decent vocalist with a cool voice.Complex interplays and some rockin' passages are thrown in the process and the addition of a keyboardist made only good to the band, now presenting a technical competent but still melodic and rich sound.While there are no particular highlights, the tracks are all very tasteful with a strong vintage aura and some beautiful variations in atmospheres and great development in structures, maybe ''Save our land'' tops them all for being a long and extremely tight piece with a couple of incredible melodies and lovely, pompous and grandiose orchestrations.

While years have passed without a second album, Vantasma are sill active in the live circuit, Welly Siahaan, Opik, Gaga and Gig are still part of the line-up and the band is operating its gigs with different guitarists.

Cool Neo Prog from Indonesia with a definite essence from the 70's.File next to Bahrain Prog kings OSIRIS from the modern Asia Prog scene, just a bit darker, more complex and emphatic.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.