TOTEM

Here's another chapter in this Spain band that have hit us with a double album for their first release. It's very difficult to describe what kind of Progressive Metal we have here. There is good dose of insanity in their sound because there is a lot of ideas in their music. We could find a lot of experimentation outside the world of Progressive Metal; odd time signatures, unusual instruments, choir, growls, etc. The songs are separated by four interludes pieces with special effects ; robotic voices, radio/TV show sounds etc. The song "I Believe" has a choir part that could be the next "Another Brick and the Wall". The muddy production of the music make me think that i am listening to a low budget Spaghetti western album that want to tell a long story with plenty of ingredients that we don't normally associate with Progressive Metal like funk and drum & bass. Some Jazz and a bit of Symphonic Prog rock can be found also throughout the album. If you want hear a simple melody with simple time signatures, you will be disturb by the music here, but if you want to be challenge by a Progressive Metal that is going out of his comfort zone, you will love it. Overall, i didn't enjoy every turn and twist of their music, but i am pleased enough to give them a positive rating despite the production quality that has nothing to do with the major bands.