COMA GHOSTS

In this day and era, with so many bands and different fusion of styles going on, it's really difficult to be surprised by up-and-coming bands. What can they possibly bring to the table? Well, I'm glad I have found Effloresce.

This German band, comprised of a female vocalist/flautist, two guitars, bass and drums (with some atmospheric keyboards here and there on the recording), is not inventing anything new, but rather playing prog metal their own way. The music is complex enough, with several interesting guitar chords and acoustic passages, to attract those fans of intricacy, yet the compositions and arrangements have a flowing feel to it, which makes the listener go through each passage and nuance of every song in a very smooth, somewhat controlled way.

Their first official CD, 'Coma Ghosts', released in February 2012, is the follow-up to their EP 'Shades of Fate' (2009) and, honestly, for a first album, it already sounds very mature. The CD opens with the eerie 'Crib', a track where you can feel the entire energy of the band and Nicki Weber's passionate singing, letting you feel what she wishes to express through the lyrics. As second track we have 'Spectre Pt. I: Zorya's Dawn', a 10-minute epic (with Roman number in its title and all) which perfectly summarizes what Effloresce is about: there's space for headbanging, but also for attentive listening. Nicki surprises with her change of voice, from soft, melodic, to growling. Those who are not fans of growls should not be afraid, for she doesn't abuse this resource, and rather uses it to emphasize certain parts of the songs. 'Pavement Canvas' follows, with more alternations between soft and growling vocals, and well-built guitar solos. The only short track on the album is number 4, 'Undercoat', a guitar-driven instrumental which brings a little oasis among the album's heaviness. Following on this melodic vein, 'Swimming through Deserts' is a soft, yet never boring song, which prepares the listener for what I consider their best track, the 16-minute 'Shuteye Wanderer'.

If I had to choose only one Effloresce song to listen to, this would be it. It's the kind of complex song that drives you through a fulfilling listening experience without ever making you think of the time. With growls mostly at the beginning, the song goes through several passages, from very heavy to beautifully acoustic, with the flute perfectly complimenting the guitars, all leading through a burst of emotion in the last minutes. The CD ends, having clocked at 54 minutes and one is left with an urge for a bit more.

Considering the many positive reviews the band has received for this first effort so far, one can only hope that there will be indeed more to come. The bar has been set high after a very good debut, but the talent is there, and I'm sure we'll hear more from Effloresce and they'll become a well-established name in the prog metal scene.