HORIZONS

Progressive metal is metal music which has big progressive influences. Anubis Gate is one of those bands that belong to this genre, which is relatively new to me. "Horizons" is their sixth studio album; their first was released 2004. They come from Denmark and are actuelly one of the country's most favmous prog bands.

The cover of "Hoizons" is subtle and mediates other thoughts than metal albums use to do. The line up is Michel Bodin on guitar, Kim Olesen on guitars, Morten Gade Sörensen on drums and Henrik Fevres who sings. Without having a bassist or a keyboardist they immediately become an odd bird in the prog fauna. My preconception of prog metal is that it should be a very heavy music but I don't really think you could say that about this album. The typical metal attributes are there of course such as the fast beating drums and the music is totally guitar driven. Though must I say that it is something more delicate over this after all. The lucid vocals and the moments of acoustic music bring you happy. The music contains a lot of stuff I have harder to acquire too. When the singer sonds like the singer of Dream Theater in the rougher parts or when the band gives me the feeling of alternative rock/indie rock which happens from one time and another. As a whole though must I say this is a pleasant album, I especially think you would think that if you are a fan of the subgenre.

My favourite song is "Breach of Faith" which contains a Mozart melody and is particularily nice(7/10). The long story of "A dream within a dream" would I recommend too(6/10) as well as "Airways"(6/10), "Destined to remember"(6/10), "Hear my call"(6/10) and "Horizons"(6/10). My song to song rating gives an average of 2.8 stars which will make the whole a three star rating. Had I been a metal fan would there perhaps have been one more.