TALES FROM THE MAZE

This is a new and promising Swedish five piece band, their debut CD is relased by the Dutch label AMR Productions.

Haze Of Time their sound is very melodic, accessible, tasteful and alternating, between symphonic prog (mid-Genesis) and neo-prog (like IQ) with the emphasis on the latter category. The band hosts dual guitar play (lots of howling soli) and dual keyboards (flashy synthesizer flights), the English vocals are decent. The climates in the eight compositions range from dreamy with twanging guitars to mid-tempo with fiery guitar and bombastic with a heavy keyboard sound. My absolute highlight is Daydreamer: first propulsive guitar riffs and drums, then an exciting part with ominous violin-Mellotron waves, goose bumps! During the rest of this track we can enjoy sensational keyboard work and strong guitar play, from howling and fiery to a raw sound.

I enjoyed this wonderful, a bit polished but very tasteful arranged album and I am sure it will not only please the neo-prog fans but also the symphomaniacs.