SATURNINE

Dante's songs on Saturnine may be long, but they are not complicated by prog metal standards, built on repeated, but catchy melodies and instrumental jams. Despite the name-dropping of "scarsick" and "images and words" in the lyrics, Dante's style of metal is rooted in the 70s, with its gruff-toned vocals, vintage-sounding organ runs and deep rumbling grooves. Looks like music that would be organic in a live setting, as Dante's brand of prog doesn't seem to be as dependent on studio trickery as some of their peers. The album is about 60-40 percent divided between heavier and lighter parts, and features, in addition to heavy rockers, two piano ballads, a fusion-inspired instrumental and, continuing the tradition of their debut album, a 19-minute epic.