ICE CYCLES

Names make news, journalists say. In my case, regarding Platypus: names make wonder. What else could you expect to happen knowing that Dream Theater bassist John Myung, ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian and Steve Morse Band drummer Rod Morgenstein join guitarist Ty Tabor (King's X) to play together in a band? So I bought this CD, their second effort.

And it's not bad. The songs are great -- in fact the song is where the band put the focus on. The band compose and arrange songs by combining classic rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, even alternative to produce a totally unique sound -- in most cases it also means catchy tunes. Songs like "Oh God", "Better Left Unsaid" and "The Tower" properly exposing this. In doing so they never actually left their individual characters to which fans have been familiar with, so it won't be surprising if there seems to be reminiscent of the members' original bands. Take "25" as an example.

This album is for those who would be happy to always widen their musical horizon. Great, yet not perfect.