IMPROGRESSIVE

This is my first experience with Mindflowers and I was impressed when the first time I listened to the opening track "Red Spider" (8:18) which sounded terrific to my ears. It combines a great harmony in the way the instruments contribute to the music with nice guitar and keyboard sounds in an intermittent fashion followed with Chapman stick (bass) work that reminds me to the work of Sean Malone in Gordian Knot. What follows is then the energetic music combining progressive metal riffs, jazz-rock fusion style with nice intertwined sounds of guitar and keyboard accompanied with dynamic drumming. It's really an impressive offering through this opening track. As I enjoy this track very much, I don't feel like ending the song in 8 minute duration. Well, there is part that reminds me to jazz-rock music especially during guitar solo.

The other track that is killing me as well is the fifth one "Why Not?" (5:07) that has a captivating piano work at the intro part followed with jazz-rock music demonstrating excellent Chapman stick and guitar solo. There are parts that remind me to complex progressive metal arrangements like the music of Liquid Tension Experiment, Dream Theater, etc. The third song "Sick Spirit" (4:50) is actually good as well, especially if you enjoy guitar-driven instrumental music in jazz-rock style.

The epic "Talk With Myself" consumes a long duration of twenty-two minute, exploring many styles of music. It starts in an ambient way using guitar solo in relatively slow tempo followed with a slow music stream with guitar fills. The song is picking up slowy at the opening part, transferring the work of guitar to piano and returning back to guitar. The music starts to pick up in faster tempo at approximately minute 4:30 ? which is too long for me. It continues with guitar solo that reminds me to Joe Satriani or Steve Vai music combined nicely with keyboard work. The piano solo that works at approx minute 8 is very nice, combined with guitar riffs and tight basslines. The music starts impressing me when it's at about minute 15 when guitar plays a solo work backed with tight bassline. The music sounds dynamic right here. Overall, this epic is nicely composed but fails to attract me as it's not as dynamic as, for example, the epic that The Tangent created in "The Music That Died Alone".

This album is very good and it suits the taste of you who love jazz-rock fusion with some progressive metal elements. If you like Gordian Knot, Liquid Tension Experiments, Relocator, Planet X, etc this album is for you. Keep on proggin' ....!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW