INMOTION

A band that is always evolving. That's prog!

The talented German neo-prog band "InVertigo" impressed me at the latest after their sensational second album "Veritas" - thus their third album "InMotion" theoretically had a hard time exceeding my expectations. But I always have a basic rule in my leident role as a reviewer: "Compare albums only extreme care." Thus, I mentally detached myself from "Veritas" and approached "InMotion" with an open mind.

Founded in 2001 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, the band has a very charming neo-prog sound, composed of warm progressive elements on the one hand and strong melodic rock elements on the other. The individual touch of the sound is extended by charismatic lead singer and pianist Sebastian Brennert, whose voice I now immediately recognize as distinctive and polished. In addition, keyboardist Michael Kuchenbecker shapes the band's sound with the help of his neo-progressive keyboard sounds. Bass and drums form a symbiotic rhythmic element on which the new guitarist Kolja Maletzki can build harmonically as well as soloistically. The songwriting thus also ranks on a high level.

"InMotion" picks up the above-mentioned strengths of the band quite skillfully and presents the bright prog listener over 45 minutes 6 quite varied and at the same time homogeneous, mature and deep songs. Even though I would like to avoid comparisons to the previous album, it can still be positively ascertained that "InVertigo" make their sound more rocking and at the same time reduce the accessibility of their songs a bit, which pleases me as a demanding prog listener very much. Not everything opens up after the first listen - and we freaks all know that this is a good indicator for very strong albums. Particularly intense "InMotion" always becomes at the points where the band leaves its comfort zone and breaks song structures, presents sophisticated harmonies (instrumental and vocal), spans unusual arcs of tension and even becomes political (in the third song hear several times the climate activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki - very well implemented).

My favorite song, however, is called "Wasted Time", because it has an irresistible chorus, many musical and dynamic twists in the almost nine-minute running time and still works as if from a single mold. Grandiose.

The timey closing song "Life" then reveals within 14 minutes again the further developed approach of "InVertigo" and actually requires its own review, because there is so much to discover here. Goosebumps, really.

Thanks to the technical know-how of Martin Schnella, all songs sound fresh, transparent and punchy. Another plus point of the album.

My conclusion is therefore very positive: The band continues to develop within their accomplished skills, explores new musical paths in stretches and, above all, does not rest on the success of their previous album "Veritas". Even if "InMotion" doesn't reveal all of its beauty right away, you'll be rewarded with some strong neo-prog very soon. If it continues like this, I have no worries that their next album will be another highlight of their discography.

Keep it up!

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