NOVA ERA

When I downloaded this album from Alhma Mater's website I didn't know what to expect. The first impression was good. A kind of progressive metal that immediately reminded me to Ayreon, so really not bad, but progressing with the listen I have found some song that appeared too pop-oriented and out of place.

The album is opened by "Nova Era (Cut The Threads)" that's pretty symphonic with a very good guitar solo. Just an intro to the first metal song: "La Promesa". Good prog metal on which the Spanish lyrics sound quite well, however the first symptoms of pop appear as soon as the guitar quiets down.

Also "Ira" starts in line with all the metal standards and is a pleasant song, specially because of the very good guitar work. The song is almost melodic even when the tempo increases due to the very clean vocals and probably because of the language as Spanish usually doesn't sound very hard. There's nothing wrong in the voice or in the language, but honestly I prefer the instrumental parts.

"A Tus Pires" is darker than the previous tracks, but it's still melodic and this time the vocal part is good enough. Again I think to Ayreon as reference.

After a short intro ("Un Dia Gris. Part 1") the following song ("Un Dia Gris Part 2") starts with a Floydian mood. The acoustic guitar, some noises and radio voices are soon joined by the metal guitar. Up to now I have mentioned Ayreon, but even Riverside can be heard in this song. This song belongs surely to PA. The instrumental part in the middle of the song is great, but when Juan Manuel restarts singing the melody is very pop-oriented. This doesn't last much, as a bolero rhythm comes with a soprano to make it symphonic for a while. But the chorus is really too pop for my tastes.

"Martir" Starts very slow on a keyboards landscape. The not too much distorted guitar with the piano sound like some Senmuth's ambient songs, until the metal is back. Good prog- metal. This is another dark track, but even on this song there's a lot of melody. Not a bad thing. It's just a question of tastes.

"Morir En El Intento" is my favorite track. I wouldn't have disliked a touch of growl here, but now it's clear that this band has a metal approach in the arrangements but has a melodic and symphonic soul which becomes evident in the sung parts.

"Solo per un Segundo" is what I mean as "pop-oriented". It's the song that has made me decrease the overall rating. Very radio-friendly. Thumb down for it.

"Don't Forgive, don't forget" sounds a bit neo-prog and gives a better direction to my thumb, aso thanks to the good guitar. Not an impressive riff but very well balanced in sounds.

"Si Encuentro Un Momento" is probably the best in the sung songs. Alhma Mater give their best when they make true metal.

"El Largo Final" is another quite good track, still too melodic to me, but again, it's just my personal taste. It doesn't mean that it's bad. Probably singing one octave higher would have made it sound more "standard metal".

"En Memoria...De Tu Silencio" is the closer. The fact that it's VERY melodic this time is a good thing as it's the most progressive moment of the whole album. I like this song. Probably it's the melody that is stronger than on the previous slow tracks. In this case, even if radio-friendly it shows some more composing skill.

In the complex it's a good album. Not my pot but three stars, even a little rounded up, are deserved.