ALTERNATIVE 4

I finally found that my local record store has statred to carry this group's CD's so I picked this one up. I have to say I quite like it. I guess this was recorded when they started to transition from a metal to a more Prog. style. This is a very melancoly, yet not depressing album to me. I hear PINK FLOYD, TOOL/PERFECT CIRCLE, and PORCUPINE TREE styles mixed in. Yet in my experiences this sounds rather unique as a whole. Many of the tracks are founded in nice piano work as guitar, heavy drums, and keys work in and out of the sound. The vocals are rather haunting, reminding me of TOOL and sometimes the echo of FLOYD vocals. The guitars are not speed or technical but are added much like the later P.T. records they fade in and out powerfully to add a heavyness and punch to the soundscape. A big part of the sound is also very diliberate echoing drums at a slow, heavy, pace, reminding of early SABBATH, I really like it. There are also some nice acoustic guitar pieces that replace the piano as the foundation of the sound. It's quite well done, full sounding Prog. music. I find myself listening to this CD all the way through and being irritated if I'm interupted.