AGHORA

Yes, it's a metal musical vein (DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X) if you listen to first track "Immortal Bliss" intro. But . not all tracks have metal part. It also reminds me to FINNEUS GAUGE or BILL BRUFORD's "Feels Good to Me" or sometime BRAND X. Not because of female vocal but it's more on the way vocal's singing style. This is an excellent debut album. I observe that the bass player is very dominant. The way he plays his bass guitar reminds me to JACO PASTORIUS of Wheather Report. AGHORA's music is a blend of metal and jazz rock fusion. This is a new invention, I think. I never heard this kind of music before. Can you imagine: Wheater Report / Finneus Gauge / Bill Bruford meet with RHAPSODY (Italian metal warrior with lead guitarist and mastermind : LUCA TURILI), YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Why do I consider this way? Look at how the guitar is played, it's a kind of LUCA and sometimes Yngwie. (track 3 - Transfiguration).

The opening part of track 4 "Frames" is definitely FINNEUS GAUGE kind of music. But it is then blended with metal heavy guitar riffs followed by howling guitar and dazzling jazzy bass guitar play in the vein of Jaco Pastorius. This track represents the richness of Aghora's music.: metal meets jazz rock fusion! Innovative and original!!!

Track 7 "Jivatma (11:23)" is a very unique track with a sort of eastern music at opening and followed by a PORCUPINE TREE like music. The solo guitar is stunning; there is no metal music component in this track. The solo bass guitar in the middle of the track creates a jazzy nuance of this track. It is then followed by solo electric guitar again. This time, the lead guitar reminds me to TOMMY BOLIN's solo in "Stratus" of BILLY COBHAM's "Spectrum" album and sometime Yngwie's style. Wonderful solo guitar and bass line! I love this instrumental track. Unfortunately this track ends up with "fade out" (so sorry I don't favor this kind of ending. You may have no problem.)

Track 8 "Existence" is another excellent track with jazz-rock fusion and metal flavors. It has female vocal here. Sometime reminds me to FLORA PURIM or GAYLE MORAN of RETURN to FOREVER. The drumming part is dynamic in this track. I'm so grateful having this kind of music. Last track "Anugraha" has a dynamic opening followed by female voice; drums dominate the scene. The eastern music nuances have influenced this track.

The only thing lacking of this album is its production. It has a poor mixing so that the sound of drum sounds strange. Overall, it's an excellent debut album. I'm curious how their next album would look like. Gatot Widayanto - Indonesia.