ACTS OF DECEPTION

Last week some fellow collaborators were debating on the Forum how to categorize this new, very adventurous sounding USA progrock band Cerebus Effect. The words Rio, Avant-Garde and Zeuhl were among the possibilities so I was afraid 'to walk on thin ice' when I got this CD to review as a Symphonic Prog Specialist. During my first listening session I noticed that the music was in the vein of the ominous cover (a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, known for his surrealistic Hell-inspired creatures), quite scary but also very dynamic featuring often propulsive rhythms with great interplay, especially between Joseph Walker (electric guitar and synthesizer solo on W) and Dan Britton (keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals and electric guitar on 3 tracks), these two musicians create an exciting sound that is close to jazzrock and fusion with elements from Mahavishnu Orchestra and Frank Zappa. Some compositions sound more in the vein of the experimental and avant-garde prog, for example King Crimson on the albums Lizard and Earthbound. But most of the songs are quite melodic and I am stunned by the Pandora's box of styles and musical ideas: ominous and grungy-like vocals, flowing Spanish guitar, fine use of the Fender Rhodes electric piano, some biting electric guitar - and a flashy synth solo, a swinging piano and many shifting moods, from dreamy with female choir to lush bombastic eruptions. So you can conclude that this CD is loaded with interesting prog but it's very varied, one band member categorized it as 'Canterbury metal', food for thoughts!