IMPENDING ASCENSION

These days I don't have much time to listen to music and forget everything that surrounds me. This album is a bunch fresh air, specially considering I was more or less disappointed with most of my recent music buys. Magellan sounds like old school prog rock, but they are not ripoffs: while being very complex (actually, the technicality of the music is high and it demands a lot of attention), they are melodically and (specially) armonically excellent (they do never use predictable chord progressions); they use programmed electronic drums, but they do not sound 'sterile' or unnatural, on the contrary, sometimes seems there's a human sitting behind the kits, and there are so many time changes that programming the drums would' ve been a big headache for Trent and company; the tracks are distinctive. They have some pure symphonic moments, with lots of keys, but every now and then they throw a heavy riff (just hear, Impending Ascension, the first and best song of the album) that brings them closer to the progressive metal genre. Not many solos here, the deal are the compositions and the constant progression of the music. You have some softer neo prog moments, but manly the album can be described as heavy.

The first two tracks are really outstanding, enjoyable, complex, intelligent; they do not sound like anything else in my whole discography. It is not a masterpiece (hey, maybe they're an acquired taste, judging the reviews Magellan received), but it would not deserve a four star rating. This album pushes limits in its own way, and easily could get the attention of any prog music lover. An unique work of art.

Rating: 4.5/5