TALVIKUNINGAS

CMX are a Finnish rock band with hardcore punk roots, nowadays balancing between mainstream and alternative with prog influences coming forth every now and then. The band started in 1985 and Talvikuningas is their 12th album, released in 2007. It's also their most progressive I think.

Talvikuningas means "Winter King" and it's a theme album with a space opera type sci-fi story, told in 12 fragments in disjointed timeline. The band told in an interview that they wanted to make "an album that King Crimson never made". It's a bold statement and of course it doesn't turn out true when you look at the end result. There is clear influence from Thrak and onwards era KC, but even more Rush, Mars Volta and Tool I think. If you like any of those three, there's a good chance you might find Talvikuningas worth checking out.

The sound is rather modern, cold and "metallic". It's guitar-lead hard rock, but keyboards are used well for atmosphere. There's plenty of odd-time yet catchy riffs and true to theme album, they revisit some riffs and musical sequences in different songs. It's always more than standard pop song structure, but they never get complex for the sake of complexity or showing off their skills.

As a Finnish rock album this gets 5 stars, as a progressive rock album aimed at international audience - 4 stars.