GRITARÉ

Shortly after augmenting their lineup with female vocalist Loreto Chaparro, the Chilean outfit Matraz released their sophomore album, Gritaré. While the band maintain the unique melange of symphonic progressive metal and jazz established on their debut album, the music is even better constructed and delivered this time around. Gritaré is an album that has a lot to offer and proves itself more than capable of surpassing its predecessor.

All of the compositions are well-written, and for the most part even the longer tracks remain cohesive and inspired throughout. There are the occasional generic and uninspired-sounding metal riffs thrown in, but these are few and far between. And while the music at times seems to have taken great influence from other bands (Dream Theater, in particular, come to mind during many sections) it is still distinctly original and captivating material.

One of the most striking things about the music on this release is the vocal work; Chaparro's delivery is extremely powerful and her soaring, melodic voice compliments the music perfectly. Chaparro's addition to Matraz's lineup for this release was a smart move and really brings the compositions to life.

The instrumentalists do not let down either. While they certainly have many moments on the record to show off their technical prowess, they refrain from too much self-indulgence and mindless shredding - something that many of their progressive metal contemporaries could learn from them. Keyboardist Diego Aburto really shines on this album, particularly with his impeccable piano work that plays a large role in shaping the sound of this album.

While the band still have some room to refine their compositions even further, they have done a tremendous job on creating this album. Gritaré is an extremely strong release and offers a great experience for any open-minded listener, even if metal is not your favourite genre.