GODSTICKS

British trio of young musicians Darran Charles (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Roberts (drums, keyboards) and Dan Nelson (bass).Godsticks started their career as a cover band in 2006, but the need of bringing some fresh air into the prog circles soon led them to creating their own material.Silently they debuted with a self-titled self-produced EP at the fall of 2008.

Did the band eventually achieved to come up with an original touch?Partly yes and partly no.One thing is for sure, ''Godsticks'' is a pleasant and highly enjoyable listening, mixing echoes from Progressive Rock, Fusion and Art Rock in a clear production.This is a very modern-sounding EP with plenty of twisting vocal work, but behind it these guys play some captivating and adventurous music.Actually a mix of ECHOLYN, TILES, A.C.T. and THIEVES' KITCHEN would pretty much describe Godsticks approach.Full of sudden breaks, Fusion-esque guitars, polyphonic harmonies, a crazy rhythm section but also some memorable passages, that stick in your mind, this British trio explores different territories of the music spectrum in a quiet innovative way.They are clever enough though to hide their obviously technical skills with plenty of lovely vocal arrangements, elegant piano lines or some refined acoustic hints.

Definitely a band to watch for the future.This EP shows Godsticks entering the world of Progressive/Art Rock in the smart way of combining virtuosic musicianship with warm vocal parts.Recommended.