OBLIVIOUS TO THE OBVIOUS

There is so much that can be said about this album, but I will try to keep this review short. The album, quite frankly, blew me away. The amazing vocal harmonies that are achieved, the extremely well-done guitar work, the technical drums, and the fantastic piano all suck the listener into a journey inside the head of a depressed man. The depression is based on a dissatisfaction with life that seems to stem from his parents, and this man's life gets worse and worse until he has some rather startling realizations. I found that I can identify with the lyrics on an extremely personal basis---I have had many of the same feelings and emotions in some of the same situations. Overall,the lyrics and the lyrical content are some of the best I have heard in a while. With all of that said, these musicians excel in the music itself with some extremely well-done technical portions, pleasant softer parts, and some of the best bass guitar I have ever heard (no joke)---he really is the star of this album. However, the album's greatest strength is still in the lyrical quality. So, while this album is around 2 hours and 30 minutes in length and includes some rather long tracks (the longest is around 20 minutes), it really never feels that long. The groove that is set, the engrossing lyrical content, and the fresh sound all combine to make this album something special. I would recommend this band to fans of Riverside, Haken, or Redemption. These fans will find some of the same themes, as well as the same technical expertise, excellent atmosphere, and vocal quality. I am really looking forward to this band's next effort.