CLASSIC ROCK PRESENTS: PROGNOSIS 5

'Prognosis 5' came with the great new pricey prog magazine, that is both gaining respect and becoming maligned by the prog world, "Classic Rock Presents Prog". In Issue 5 the CD features more very good prog that ranges from excellent to listenable. The magazine itself features classic and newer prog but the CDs are more designed to expose new prog talent rather than providing a solid overall collection of the genre. This CD features 12 artists and some are very well known such as Transatlantic, Mostly Autumn and Shadow Circus. The CD is a definite drawcard to the mag as it features new prog that I have never even heard of before such as Nosound, Adventure and Makajodama among others. Let us visit each track.

Transatlantic's first track from the new "The Whirlwind" album has been edited onto the compilation and a prime example of what to expect from that excellent album. It is a solid teaser to an album that should be owned by any symphonic prog addict. Superb musicianship and singing.

The Italian band Nosound's 'Fading Silently' begins with mellotron soaked ambience and a strong beat. The soft textures of sound are melancholy and this is enhanced by Pink Floyd style vocals. The David Gilmour style springs to mind, and I have a real affinity with this being a Pink Floyd fan, so no problems here. The beat is sporadic at times but the real drawcard is those shimmering sustained keyboards, the chord structure is magical, a beautiful sound that caresses your ears. At 5:25 the beat stops and there is an extended keyboard pad that drones ominously, with elegance and the acoustic guitar is a sweet addition. Dreamy beautiful music from the new RPI band's album "A Sense Of Loss".

Within Temptation's 'Stand My Ground' is from the live "An Acoustic Night At The Theatre". I am a fan of this Dutch band especially the vocals of Simone Simons. The high octave range is typified here on this track and the heavy guitars are balanced perfectly. The melodic chorus is awesome and easy to sing to; "I just know there's no escape now, stand my ground, I won't give in, I won't give up, no more denying, I've got to face it or close my eyes, and hide the truth inside, if I don't make it someone else will, stand my ground". There is an excellent driving bassline. I think they are one of the better female fronted Goth metal bands to emerge of recent times.

'Rabid Animals' by 3 is a very melodic track from "Revisions" album with a great rocking riff and I really enjoy listening to this sound. It is a very clean vocal with loud guitars and keyboards. The beat is moderate to quick. The lyrics are catchy and although there is a commercial sound, it is innovative enough to be worthy of inclusion on the album.

Caramel Jack are represented with the track 'We Could Build Skyscrapers' a moderate track with acoustic flourishes, scratchy percussion and a very strong melody. The vocals are low and well sung. There is a great brass instrumental to add to the atmosphere. The effects are intriguing. I love those lyrics; "we're so concrete, we're so sky, we're automobiles, we're so I... we're in love, we could build skyscrapers..." a very good track and a good example of new prog.

Madder Mortem really thrash things up with a killer riff in 'Life, Lust & Liberty'. I like the aggressive female vocals, growling male vocals, and heavy prog guitars. This is a great sound generated and the vocals are excellent; "And we will live and we will bring... it is our right it is our place... life and lust and liberty". It is dark Norwegian prog but really stands out on the compilation with its low distorted sound and unusual vocal style. I love this track, it just kicks serious A; find it on the "Eight Ways" album.

Adventure's 'A Crack In The Ice Part 2' is a symphonic, neo -prog Norwegian act that heavily focus on keyboards and an ambient atmosphere. The vocals are reminiscent of Magnum. It sounds a little bombastic especially the lyrics that are supposed to be about an epic thematic content, as this is part of a longer epic. The Hammond sound shimmers and grinds beautifully. The synthesizer solo passages are very well executed. The lyrics are interesting but very clichéd, "As the sands fall through the hourglass... I can see an old man cry... sinners and saints fall down on their knees and pray... now it feels like we're in the boat... in this storm were doomed to row, I wish we could find our way back home." The huge lead guitar and keyboard solo is mesmirising and there are some wonderful moments on this track.

Big Big Train present 'Last Train', a melodic quiet song with gentle singing. The music is acoustic and clean electric guitars mixed with solid keyboard motifs. The massive Hammond sound at the end is glorious. The instrumental passages are highlights of the song. The guitar solo in particular at about 4:20 is worth checking out. This is another very good track on this compilation. Nick D'Virgilio from Spock's Beard is one of the members.

Sanctuary Rig's 'Life Song' begins with a lonely piano and a soft melancholy vocal; "your love has touched me there, I reach for all that you have given, searching for the light... giver of the soul... taker of the hour, show me how, how to radiate this hour, and take this bleeding hole astride this longing giver..." very unusual style too, and I love the guitar solo that follows. The melody is dark but easy to grasp onto, quite infectious actually. The lyrics are the real drawcard, weird, ethereal and sad. I found this song to be a bit dreary, self pitying and longed for more innovation from this UK band.

From the excellent "Whispers and Screams" album Shadow Circus brings us one of the best tracks from the album, 'Angel'. The album is incredible and this is a good example of what to expect, theatrical solid vocals and lyrics along with a huge wall of sound of keyboards and heavy guitars. Melodic softer metal. This is one of the more melodic singable tracks on the album; "angel with the dirty wings, angel, she'll give you everything..." . The piano on this is divine and there is also an excellent soaring guitar solo. A definite highlight of the compilation.

"Here's a song that's been with us for a while," Josh says to an appreciative audience. Mostly Autumn are one of my favourite bands and this live version of 'Evergreeen' from "Live 2009 Part 1" showcases the haunting, beautiful vocals of Heather Findlay, one of the all time greatest female vocalists of prog. Josh's deft guitar playing is gentle and calm. This is a huge hit for the band and the live version is sung with a pure heart and with feeling; "she knows what it means to be evergreen, she's seen more than some eyes have ever seen, clad in green gracefully she reaches winter sun, she's the lucky one". I always liked this song, and I can listen to Findlay all day so another highlight for me, though they have better tracks that represent their proggier side such as 'The Last Climb' or 'Winter Mountain'. The lead solo at the end is incredible.

Makajodama's 'The Ayurvedic Soap' ends the compilation on a progressive note; more challenging music with a chilling violin section and very strange bassline. Reminds me a bit like King Crimson and the guitar is Fripp like in this regard. That time signature is very odd. This is more like it. At the end of the CD we get something with a challenging time sig, and a dark atmosphere, creative nuances and ethereal soundscape. This is awesome! The band are a Swedish instrumental quintet. The violins are like Comus meets Whimwise or Van der Graaf's violin sound on "The Pleasure Dome" album. The booming bass is ominous and the violins scrape and screech in nerve jangling rhythms. At times it is as if the violinists are playing two separate songs. This instrumental is perhaps a good representation of this band and I am intrigued to find out more about them. this is taken from their self titled debut on the Laser's Edge label.

Conclusion, this is a very melodic, symphonic compilation with only one real prog metal track and only one track with a creative unusual style. Most of the tracks are new and more commercial than usual for the prog genre. I think people listening to this though who aren't familiar with prog would be pleased with this melodic sound although others like myself who are aware of the innovation and unusual side of prog expect more. There is nothing on here that is groundbreaking though Transatlantic, Shadow Circus and Makajodama are exceptions, the representations of their sound selected on the compilation do not prove this though. Makajodama stand out as true innovators of the craft and absolutely stunned me. So overall, another average to mediocre compilation, easy listening for the most part, nothing challenging, though it will grow on you such is the melodic nature of the music. I wish the magazine could choose more innovation and creativity as they included on their first 3 CDs.