PARANORMAL HUMIDOR

The second album from Somnambulist called Paranormal Humidor was released in 2001 which means a new album is long overdue if the band still exists. I really liked their debut album for it´s raw and pretty strange prog rock style. The Style has changed towards the more polished on Paranormal Humidor even though that doesn´t mean Somnambulist has become a straight prog rock band. They still draw influences from many genres which would fit them nicely into the eclectic prog rock catagory.

Somnambulist is at the same time a very modern sounding band and a very traditional seventies inspired prog rock band. There are lots of seventies keyboard sounds on Paranormal Humidor while other parts of the music sounds more modern for example the vocals which tends to have a comtemporary approach. Sometimes Paranormal Humidor reminds me a bit about another american prog rock album namely Cathedral´s The Bridge. But while Cathedral generally sounds a bit more grounded in the seventies Somnambulist is a much more modern band.

The album starts with a blast. It´s seldom I have heard such a powerful start to an album. Samples of a real tv- preacher ( Maybe Jimmy Swaggert ?)shouting out what will be gone ( the Chevy Chases, Eric Estradas and the weirdos of Hollywood) when armageddon comes is just hilarious ( or scary depending on what mood I´m in). The sample ends with the preacher asking: Are you afraid to Die ? Are You afraid to Die ? Which leads directly into the first song In the Mindwarp Pavillion. It´s such a great song with it´s subdued vocals in the vers and the beautiful chorus with it´s grand keyboard chords. I won´t forget to mention the chaotic opening riff either. It´s such a great song.

Pathos of Least Resistance is also a great song. Note the Genesis like keyboard part in the middle of the song. Maybe a bit too much of a ripp-off but beautiful never the less. Personally I don´t mind when it sounds so good. Destiny, She Said is the third song, and again it´s a great track even though the kind of hard rock chorus isn´t much to my liking. It´s the same with Died & Alone later on the album. It´s the weakest song on Paranormal Humidor and I don´t like the chorus much. Infant is just a small instrumental while the two long tracks Troy Built Helen and Paranormal Humidor are among the highlights of the album.

The musicianship is very good and it´s especially nice to hear the interplay between the musicians.

The production is a very modern prog rock production. It´s very good and makes the music come forth in just the right way.

Paranormal Humidor is an excellent modern prog rock album. Somnambulist is a band I´m very happy I was introduced to and they have grown considerably since their very good debut album. I just hope they still exist because I´m sure that if they make another album it will be great. 4 stars is well deserved for Paranormal Humidor.