CYBION

J.R.R. Tokien of our Prog world, Kalisia is somewhat obscured but robust French Extreme/Tech Prog Metal band. Comprise of 6 instrumentalists which have well connection to many elites of prog society, the band release their highly expected album "Cybion" in 2009 with many distinctive guess musicians (like..Angela Gossow, Paul Masdival and Arjen Luccassen). Cybion is a concept album...divide to 4 parts to form one integral concept. They had gone so far that they invent "Kal" language for they earnest story telling, and this is where Tokien analogy comes from. To this point I, for one, have no hesitation to watch out for a channel to obtain a copy of this album.

20 tracks tell a story from stars and their interactions, an good science fiction or space version of the lord of the rings...you make say. Its musical structure looks more like opera screenplay with variety of ways in storytelling. Singers growl, chant, speak and sometime melodically sing. These serve as the dialog between characters in the story. The music, however, plays it part as a background score of a movie. It comes in variety of style but mainly metal riffing with atmospheric keyboard background. Therefore, the musics sound so big and serious like Norwegian black metal band. I personally feel like I am watching a cult movie made by Jerry Bruckheimer.

In term of musicianship? They are extremely talented. In writing, composition and production? There is no single thing to complain. This kind of music is usually so complexed and hard to get into...that is what we love about prog, right? Anyway, their musics are more heavy devy wall-of-sound type than others. Therefore, as a reviewer I have to say that, as I am not very familiar with is kind of music, I feel a bit fatigue after a listening session. Moreover, there are some point that I get bored by it length and its somewhat repetitious riff. But, I must say, that's not their fault, it's just a matter of my preference. So...if you like this category of Prog, I'll undoubtedly like Cybion. For me...3.5 stars.