LAST EPIC

Well this is certainly a enjoyable new album from swedish pop-prog rockers A.C.T. It is generally hard to really classify their music as it mixes elements of pop with some elements of power metal and some progressive elements, but this combination is surely very sucsessfull and i have hardly heard it better...

First of all this is not very progressive in the terms that you need many listens to really get into this album, the melodies are really poppy and you get into them in no time, but also the songs manages to maintain a certain degree of complexity and originality and thus not making it sound over-poppy either. Well then, this album is meant to maintain a concept throughout the whole album and although it is not one of the more complex ones it really sets the mood with the symphonic intro...Actually the pause between the symphonic intro and the next song is really great and it slides from symphonic to classic power metal and then suddenly into a more poppy sequence and this movement is really great and original and serves to make this band sound much more destinct and they use these combinations often through the album (Symphonic, pop and power metal) I can't think of any other bands that uses this combination so effectively and they are pretty unique but if you wonder what they sound like think ABBA mixed with Queen mixed with a bit of Pain of salvation...it might sound like a very strange combination it works wonderfully and they stand as one of the most succesfull combinations of pop and prog that i have ever heard...Truly recommended! and 4.5 stars really!

Standout tracks: Torn by a phrase,Manipulator and the effect.

Similar stuff: Well not much that sounds like this but Porcupine tree-In absenthia also manages to incorporate metal and pop with prog quite nicely. Also you could try out Queen- A night at the opera and some light power metal bands like sonata artica...but really there is nothing that is truly like this and i recommend this album above all others!