A SOCIAL GRACE

4.5 stars.Talk about making an entrance ! This debut album from PSYCHOTIC WALTZ is complex, loud and clever. This is a 5 piece band with Buddy Lackey (Devon Graves) on vocals, flute, keyboards and acoustic guitar. Dan Rock on lead guitar, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitar and piano. Brian McAlpin lead guitar and acoustic guitar, Norm Leggio on drums and Ward Evans on bass. Such a powerful and complex band.

"...And The Devil Cried" is heavy and complex with vocals. So impressive ! Very precise with some amazing interplay. "Halo Of Thorns" is laid back with acoustic guitar. Reserved vocals come in. It kicks in around 1 1/2 minutes and the contrast continues. Blistering guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. "Another Prophet Song" sounds great ! Very melodic with some excellent guitar leads as the vocals come in. Nice sound when it settles before 2 1/2 minutes. It kicks back in with some outstanding guitar before 4 1/2 minutes. A top three song for me. "Successor" features outbursts of instrumental music that turns into a steady stream. Vocals join in. "In This Place" sounds really good with that heavy sound with vocals. Some spoken words too.

"I Remember" is mellow to start and it gets fuller 1 1/2 minutes in. Flute before 2 1/2 minutes, piano too. "Sleeping Dogs" is almost spacey throughout. Quite different from the rest. No vocals either. "I Of The Storm" is a storm ! Haha. Heavy duty this is with great vocals a minute in. "A Psychotic Waltz" is another top three track for me. Piano to open which is replaced by some tasteful guitar. Vocals a minute in. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo continues to shift. "Only In A Dream" has a beautiful intro before it kicks in. Love that intro though. The whole song is amazing. Another top three tune. "Spiral Tower" is eerie to begin including a sinister laugh. It kicks in at 1 1/2 minutes. I like this one a lot. Great rhythm too. Check out the guitar before 4 minutes and the vocals. Incredible ! I have to say this is my fourth favourite. "Strange" is relaxed yet heavy before it kicks into gear a minute in. Here we go ! Vocals follow. The calm 3 minutes in is fantastic ! They slow it down to a haunting mood 5 1/2 minutes in. "Nothing" is both powerful and intense. Great sound 4 1/2 minutes in. People are talking to end it.

What a debut ! This cooks, yet it's very intelligent and well thought out. So impressive.