TERRAFORM

'Terraform' was the second album from the project led by keyboard player Carl Westholm (Carptree, Krux, Candlemass) who brought together friends and colleagues from his other bands plus some others to follow on from where the debut left off (given that 'First Contact/Last Warning' only came out the year before perhaps that isn't too much of a surprise). Musically here is someone who has been heavily influenced by Devin Townshend, but then brought in some Ayreon to produce something that is full of balls and wall to wall guitars but also with a real progressive sensibility. It is intense, extremely well produced, and the singers manage to just about stay in front of the music as everyone here is determined to make themselves heard.

Given that both Carl and singer Mats Levén (also Therion, Malmsteen, Krux etc) are in Candlemass it is probably no surprise at all that these guys really know when and how to really belt it out. But, as well as the monstrous riffs (with superb bass and drums in support) from both guitars and keyboards, there is also room for more quiet and gentler interludes that emphasise the heaviness that is going on. This is prog metal that is slightly more metallic than it is progressive, but with plenty of both to make this of interest to anyone who wants their progressive rock to be anything but introspective and restrained. www.jupitersociety.se