MEMORIES & INTUITION

SHUMAUN is the solo project of Farhad Hossain from IRIS DIVINE who is releasing his 3rd album here. More melodic, less metallic, synthesis with the singular and airy voice of Farhad and the pounding of the gifted drummers mentioned below; omnipresent bass and solos from Farhad and Tyler make this album a good digest of an open fusion on metal, prog and current music made of various reminiscences. Nervous progressive hard rock and ballads where the scents of DREAM THEATER, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS see DEFTONES can be recognized for this musical mix.

Begins with "A Subtle Invocation" and a direct vocal intro bringing on the raw sound of the group, energetic supercharged metal, quickly identifiable chorus and a groovy riff and its bassist frame. "Prisoners" for an airy pop-rock title that denotes, melodic and a little psyche, like a blue flower; a bit of the 30 'TO MARS, a track to listen to in stadium, oxymoron to the track; intimate, dreamlike and disconcerting. "Memories of Water" sets out again on a muscular tune with melody; the riff sets the scene, the voice adds two tones; the solo is just enjoyable, in short catchy and vitamin, melodic energy. "Jabriel's Song" arrives and recalls an intro of DREAM THEATER, aerial, crystalline, sentimental; it is a beautiful instrumental where the "spleene" guitar runs out of power, where the female voices at the start help to leave; halfway through it starts again pouring in emotion, a moment when Farhad's bluesy solo can recall those of the late Gary MOORE; the finale begins to decline as it stretches out. "Invincible" and its Indian intro, think of BONHAM see LED ZEPPELIN; languid female voices, Thomas' drums add a layer; the rhythm arrives frantic with the aggressive voice, the riff and these oriental sounds in reverberation, the resulting solo squirts and takes on a progressive slope with intermingled voices, a moment worked with a final piano and voice of Tibet; a must. "Under the Sun" for the romantic title, ballad on an ethereal guitar arpeggio; title more pop at the start, falling into a melancholy atmosphere; experimental groovy variation on TEARS FOR FEARS one beat, catchy and dancing harmonic, in short a piece apart by its tempo.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" starts with a structure that RUSH would not have denied, a bit of the "Magnum" series, good guitar on ALDO NOVA, BECK, like jazzy break, SANTANA, oh ROTHERY. It starts again on a well- pronounced melodic metal line for the second remarkable instrumental with striking bass. "Tides" from 2007, updated in 2012, presents itself, shimmering FM rock with its piano coulis that goes so far as to hit its solo; title ballad which flows naturally. "Intuition Underground" and return to greasy heavy rock prog, the vocals more screamed to affirm the direction of the title; the nervous riff, high as on an LED ZEPPELIN at its beginnings, on a DEF LEPPARD, an ALICE IN CHAINS; surely the most conventional song; "Breathing Light" for 9 minutes of progressive derivation: prog metal eyeing Teuton, on FATES WARNING; the well-placed drums which represent the backbone of the song, the soft voice which allows itself to belch at the right time, an anthem which could be found on the ORO of HURLING METAL with its oriental break, soaring, rhythmic, successful; the solo takes you to a prog metal atmosphere, bass à la HARRIS nervous, drums à la PORTNOY- MANCINI, the DREAM THEATER are not far away; melodic return soft and strong at the same time, to keep you alert. "A Planetary Shift" for the syrupy ballad all in turmoil, soft notes, intonation, melancholy title pulling on hope; mid-term rise with a voice à la KHAN and a high and grandiloquent orchestration, also proof that prog can nestle everywhere, even in prog metal. "The Day We Said Goodbye" yes it's over! A repetitive ambient 3rd instrumental as if saying goodbye also means that we will see each other again soon; a variation of guitar notes reminding me of those of GOUVERNAIRE of the IRIS group all supported by an aerial piano like the one on ATOMA; a beautiful condensed trance music ideal to land after this journey without borders because we could also find X-FILES sounds next to these ethereal flakes where the verse surprises by its clarity.

SHUMAUN therefore struck hard with this conventional album at first glance, efficient, technical and enjoyable for any fan of prog metal; beautiful melodies, relaxing ballad titles and prog forays that lead to metal, pop, blues and jazz. Four drummers who give excitement with their technical scores, who make you want to dive back into them for an hour that goes by too quickly, you have to do it .