UNFOLDED LIKE STAIRCASE

Many albums have been released in the last 10 years or so by bands obviously influenced by "the greats", but on too many occasions, they come across as slavish imitators with no original thought or ideas to stamp the work as their own. Happily, in Discipline (pun intended) we find a group of musicians drawing heavily from Genesis, VDGG and King Crimson, yet retaining a strong identity, especially lyrically. Throughout this release, and despite the track lengths, none of which clock in at under 13 minutes (the two part 'before the storm' is effectively a single piece), Discipline's playing is tight, considered, restrained in the power chords, but majestic in some of the mellotron passages (especially during the closing section of the excellent 'Crutches' and part 2 of 'Before the storm') and refreshingly, considering the recent dearth of "good" prog rock lyricists, the lyrical content is intelligent and driven by Parmenter's strong vocal abilities- in fact, just as you'd want in a prog rock album of the 'old school'. Musicianship is studious and of good quality, but Discipline contains no vituosi, just a driven leader (Matthew Parmenter) and his band of more than able acolytes - Jon Preston Bouda in particular impresses with his best Steve Hackett impersonation... Discipline straddle a difficult line; some fanatical symphonic prog rock listeners may find them too 'heavy' in places, whereas prog-metal fans may consider them too light, but I honestly think both 'camps' will take something away from this album, and all lovers of schools old and new should lend an ear.