SUN CAGED

An impressive Dutch progrock band that teamed up in '99 with these musicians: Marcel Coenen (guitar), Rob van der Loo (bas and stick), Joost van den Broek (keyboards) and Sascha Burchardt (vocals), she arrives after the first EP "Scar winter" from 2000. The second EP "Dominion" was released a year later. The two mini-CD's contain not only progmetal-oriented music (like DREAM THEATER and some IRON MAIDEN) but also some jazz and fusion elements. The voice of Sascha is strong and natural and guitarist Marcel (ex-LEMUR VOICE, Dutch progmetal band) shows his skills. The alternating compositions are both complex as melodic, this band has delivered a promising product. The new line-up from Sun Caged (the name is derived from a song by Simply Red) from 2003 featured Marcel Coenen (guitar), André Vuurboom (vocals), Joost van den Broek (keyboards), Rob van der Loo (bas and stick) and Dennis Leeflang (drums), known from WITHIN TEMPTATION, a famous Dutch gothic band. The CD "Sun Caged" contains nine compositions with often spectacular shifting moods with elaborate and tasteful keyboardplay, heavy and propulsive guitarwork, powerful vocals and a dynamic rhythm- section. The music features exciting soloing but the emphasis remains on the songs, this makes Sun Caged sound like a band. This refreshing progmetal deserves international recognition! By the way: the Japanese CD version has a bonustrack entitled "Four guilders". Unfortunately mid 2004 keyboardplayer Joost (he joined Arjen Lucassen on the road with his musical project Ayreon) and singer Andre decided to leave the band, later the band decided to call it a day.