PEACE AMONG THE RUINS

This is a five piece USA band including two keyboard players, one of them is Kurdt Vanderhoof (Metal Church).

Their debut-CD starts very bombastic featuring a propulsive rhythm-section and lush organ. The interludes with violin-Mellotron, sparkling piano an flashy synthesizer flights add a very symphonic dimension to the heavy progressive sound. Most of the other seven compositions alternates between mellow with acoustic guitar and violin-Mellotron to heavy and bombastic with fiery electric guitar, swirling organ, majestic Mellotron and quick synthesizer runs. The blend of hardrock and vintage keyboards evokes Angel and Kansas and the vocal harmonies and synthesizer runs reminds me of Styx. Not every track on this album is at the same level ("Seasons" and "Sunshine" sound as polished rock songs) but in general the compositions deliver lots of excitement with powerful vocals, many changing climates, strong breaks and good soli on guitar and keyboards. Highlight is the composition "Sunshine" that starts with twanging acoustic guitar and violin-Mellotron, then acoustic rhythm-guitar and synthesizer flights, followed by a Pandora's Box of strong musical ideas, from a fat bass sound with Mellotron to sparkling piano runs and bombastc organ. I hope that on their next album all compositions wil be on the level of this one!< A PROMISING HEAVY PROGRESSIVE DEBUT CD!