KRO NI KA

This is the latest album from a Czech band that’s been around since ’94. As a huge fan of eastern European progrock, I eagerly put this on in my player after I got the promo. The prospects were really promising, 3 songs, each at least 17 minutes long. A bit scary, but the beginning was good after listening to the first one. The song was really melodic to begin with. After that it became clear to me, that this was a somewhat heavy album. In fact after a while the song introduces quite a few splendid and very aggressive riffs. It gives the feeling, that one could easily listen to it for the 25 minutes the first song lasts, and for that, it certainly varies enough.

The lyrics of this song are really good. It’s like reading a story of a man, who one might suppose is about to leave this world, and the story is very poetic. The only problem is, one only notices the lyrics when he reads the sleevenotes. And even then it’s really hard to hear them. The singing seems to be mixed very badly, badly enough to sadly take a huge part of the song's soul away. It’s a shame, that all the lyrics literally drown under the aggressive guitars. That is probably the only thing that really makes the first song a bit less good.

And I was sad to notice that this is a thing that continues throughout the whole record. It makes one wonder, why make full, long lyrical pieces, and even write them both in Czech and English if they’re not going to be heard? Well, nevertheless, the second track begins very pompous. And one hears a welcome to the Marble Halls accompanied by an organ, this actually sounds exactly like the song Pride of the Biosphere by Wigwam, though that must only be because of the same chord it begins with, and both have but organ and talking together. After that it turns on a really groovy gear. In fact the song is groovy in a Kansas like way all the way to the end of it.

I would not like to go comparing this band to something else, but some of those who have heard early albums of Porcupine Tree might have a very clear image of how the third song begins. The musicians themselves say in the sleevenotes, that the album is about a city, and travelling, both physically and psychically. Yet they do not wish to force anyone to approach the album only from a certain perpective. And this they do very well. In fact, I wanted to listen to this the first time, but didn’t really have time for it, so I ended up forcing myself. Couldn’t really get the hang of it. The next time I realised how extremely melodic this record is despite the aggressive rythms. Now that I’m listening to this again, I realise no matter how I feel, I really find it innovative and inspiring. Great music indeed. And, I think, personal in a good way.

Now here comes the hard part. What to say about an album, that is great on pretty much every aspect, but could sound a lot better or worse if it was mixed better. Well, I once saw/heard a great gig. I noticed it was horribly mixed, and the performers really suffered from it. That didn’t take away the fact, that it was great. But it was not the best, I thought. Without the problems it could have been better, but if that really is so, I will never know. Yet in this case, I have no certain image on how the lyrics would sound if they would sound at all. So I can’t suppose it would get better or worse. But if it could get better, it doesn’t deserve the best rating, and, if it could get worse, well then, the album benefits from errors like that, and can’t deserve a ten. Imagine a band cutting out the bass because the bass player couldn’t play. There would be no possible way of saying it’s completely good.

Now, getting back on this album for a review here on ProgArchives, I've begun to like it even more. The sounds don't bother as much, and the album is really enjoyable. I borrowed a review of mine that I did a year or so ago, but corrected some typoes and reconsidered the album, and I'm glad I did. I think, the record is, and I quote: an Excellent addition to any prog music collection. To any, exactly!

Rating: 8 (out of 10) Reviewer: Tuomas Renvall aka Passionist