FOLLOWING THE UNKNOWN

The third album from this Russian band. Originally inspired by Dream Theater, the group began adding more jazz influences into their music while remaining a quartet of guitar-bass-keyboards-drums. The sound of this album is a mix of fusion and prog metal. The title track is based on a piano melody at first with some guitar soloing. Then a slightly more symphonic part. Ends in a more prog metal manner. "Sea Breeze" has what sounds like a flute melody but it might just be a keyboard. This track is equal parts fusion and melodic metal. "Through The Forest" opens with some funky bass, then jazzy keyboards and guitar join in. Mellows out a bit towards the middle.

"Mountain Of Solitude" begins in a more symphonic way without drums. The majority of the track is melodic jazz rock with metal-isms in the guitar playing. Starting around 5 1/2 minutes is a bizarre guitar solo. Atonal and avant-garde compared to the rest of the music. "Avalanche" starts out very jazzy but eventually turns very metal. "Into The Mist" has the most acoustic guitar on the album. The last and longest track "Random Name Hero" also begins with a funky bassline. Funky prog metal turns into melodic prog metal. Equal parts fusion and prog metal for awhile.

Stays closer to fusion while going in a symphonic direction. Features a great bass solo towards the end. Overall, a great sounding album with lots of interesting music. Nice interplay between the guitar and keyboards. Recommended to those who enjoy the heavier end of modern fusion. I'll give this a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.