AQUARIUS

This is a pretty ambitious debut album from a band who've had to rapidly change personnel due to academic commitments for some of the members. The writing is slick enough, but it's the execution as ever with this newer prog that shines through. It's more Dream Theater than Genesis, and I wouldn't expect to be too emotively heart-string tugged.

That said, the execution is outrageous and the album is vastly more fun than most prog; refreshingly so. Many of the throwaway sections are there for amusement (polka metal?) and the band's virtuoso musicianship (the drummer's substantial knowledge of brass instrumentation is obvious) is a real treat. The original line-up featured two guitarists and a keyboardist passing around the shred solos like so many rounds in pass the parcel. It was a wonder to see live.

All in all, the album is excellent and I give it 5 such that it can be brought to the public attention and claim the prize for album of the year that it so richly deserves.