DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM

The first time I listened to this album I felt that it was a totally different kind of music I had had been exposed with. But, I found it interesting. So I kept spinning the CD, especially if no one was around. Why? The distortion produced by the music man . It's not that bad for my ears but I was afraid some people don't get used to it. Yes, some people might say that the music is noisy. Let's respect the musician's style and just let our mind open with their music. And this is my view abut this album ..

It starts with an ambient style keyboard followed with voice in the opening track Son et Lumiere (1:35). It flows seamlessly into a hard driving track Inertiatic ESP (4:24) with pondering vocal and very energetic style. What interesting is the keyboards sound at the back that resembles electric piano played in chords that seem to run in different direction with the melody but it produces excellent harmony. I think this is the interesting part of this track. Distorted guitar sounds provide balance sound with weird but powerful vocal line. The interlude part with dazzling and solid bass lines augmented with guitar effects and guitar solo that feature vocal is truly stunning. These two tracks should be enjoyed in its entirety. At the end of the track there is a sort guitar work that reminds me to Robert Fripp's guitar style. Overall, these two tracks are excellent.

Roulette Dares (The Haunt of) (7:31) opens with sound loops accompanied by drum's high-hat sounds. The nuance of this opening reminds me to DREAM THEATER's "The Great Debate" track from "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" album. Drum betas bring the music in hard driving energy music followed with abrupt change into quiet passage with melodic vocal part. That's actually how this song is composed, it comprises with many surprises in terms of styles and tempos that make this song is truly progressive. The only problem - if you think so, because I don't have a problem at all - is probably the noisy distorted guitar sounds with weird vocal quality in high register notes. The electric guitar solo at the end of the track reminds me to MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND music. Stunning! I like how the band approach the composition of this song. BTW, this song has many catchy segments produced by vocal, guitar and even bass guitar.

Tira Me a las Arañas (1:29) is basically the band's exploration / experimentation of guitar fills and sound effects. It flows seamlessly to a latin rock kind of music that remarks the entrance of Drunkship of Lanterns (6:20) in an uplifting tempo with percussion plays dominant role as rhythm section. Electric guitar work provides excellent accentuation at the back with some solo. I admire the good vocal quality of its lead singer. His vocal may not favor wider audience because it's unusual, I think. This song has excellent interlude and Frippian guitar style in modern sound at the ending part of the track.

Eriatarka (7:06) is a mellow track with nice melody accentuated with a variety of sound effects at background. The music turns a little bit louder but still in the range where most people can bear it. It has a spacey transition piece followed with melodic singing part in the middle of the track. What follow is the change into more hard driving style and louder voice with more energetic vocals. The combination of bass lines and drum work is excellent. Overall, even though it sounds less complicated than previous tracks but this song has an excellent structure and variation in styles with some catchy segments.

Cicatriz ESP (12:29) Wow! What an excellent opening part with great drum beats and powerful vocals augmented with guitar solo at the background. The music flows with solid bass lines in uplifting mood. There is a spacey nuance break followed with higher register notes singing part. The guitar solo part is built around seventies style but with more distortion and effects. Hmm .. I like the part at approx min [4:10] when the music turns into bluesy style with STUNNING clean guitar melody plus some effects - but no distortion this time. It's truly a killing part here man! This wonderful part ends at approx min [06:00] when the keyboard effects fill the music in silent mode. Actually, this is an excellent part - but it's too long so that I get bored with this sound effects part. The ending part is another latin rock music with distorted guitar solo.

This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed (4:58) is a high energy track with fast tempo reminiscen of THE BEATLES. I like the quiet part with powerful bass lines and guitar fills featuring excellent vocal. This track combines distorted part and quiet part nicely.

Televators (6:19) is probably the most accessible track for most people as the song is built on acoustic based concept with nice electric guitar imposed on top of acoustic guitar work. The vocal combines low and high register notes nicely. It's the band's answer to rock ballad, I think.

Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt (8:42) concludes the album with an upbeat music with a singing style that is close to rap music but performed differently. I can sense the lead guitar solo that in some pieces are in the vein of Robert Fripp. In the middle of the track the music turns into a nice interlude where clean guitar work gives excellent solo with bass and percussion give the rhythm section. Another excellent track.

Overall, it's an excellent addition to any prog collection. There is only one caveat that may be useful for those who don't get used to heavy and abrupt music like this album: noise produced from distorted electric guitar. If you are OK with this, this album is definitely for you. Keep on proggin' .!!!

Yours progressively,

GW