BEAUTIFUL & MONSTROUS

Some CDs you just get them because you feel they are good. This was the case of Beautiful & Monstrous. I just felt it might be good and bought it without even knowing who those guys were. Of course that when I heard it and got to know where some members came from it was clear they sound a lot like their former band, the german underground legend Sieges Even (around the time of their The Art Of Navigation By The Stars CD), but their sound is slightly more progressive, maybe because of the presence of a keyboards player (a very nice plus, I should say).

As usual their forte is the trademark minimalistic guitar sound by Markus Steffen, the gorgeous melodies and the incredible multi tracked vocals of Arno Menses (how do they handle those parts live is a mystery to me), both former members fo Sieges Even. Although there are now keyboards, they don´t get in the way of the overall sound, serving more as a background soundscape with just a few solos and without much noodling. This is clearly a guitar band. And one of the best, I should say. It´s hard to label this kind of music, it´s quite unique (neo prog? I doubt it, but they had to put the band somewhere, right?)

The music on Beautiful & Monstrous is highly emotional, with soaring guitars and vocals helped by a strong rhythm section and the subtle keys. It sounds maybe too simple and plain at first, but this impression is deceiving. All the songs are in fact a rich tapestry of sounds that hide the musicianss incredible skills and creativeness. So if you´re looking for long solos, explicit displays of virtuosity and pomp, look somewhere else. On the other side, if you enjoy a music that is powerful, very melodic, elaborated and passionate, this is a must have. Production is top otch. There are also no highlights, all tracks are good and have something to offer. Right now I´m in love with The Sea.

I really hope those guys release another album soon. Interesting enough my CD comes with an extra track, called Rain Is The Most Beautiful Color, and it is as good as the others. Rating: at least four stars. Maybe I should say 4,5 or even five stars, but this being only their debut, I believe they will develop their sound even more. For now, it´s an excellent addition to any prog collection.