SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR AWAY

Greek outfit VERBAL DELIRIUM was initially formed by composer and keyboardist Jargon back in 1999, but numerous line-up alterations over the next few years resulted in no real progress for the first few years of its existence. A demo was scored in 2007, and with what appeared to be a stabilized personnel situation a full-length debut album was recorded in 2009. The material recorded earned them a deal with the French label Musea Records, which released the album towards the tail end of 2010.

Strong moods and distinct melodies are at the forefront of the material showcased by Verbal Delirium on this occasion, and as such those with a fancy for capital P progressive rock may not find what they are looking for in this case. But those with a soft spot for acts like Sylvan, especially the more recent parts of their discography, should be a core audience for this band. While different in overall stylistic expression, I believe the overall dynamics of the compositions should resonate well with that particular crowd.

The story of this Greek band from Athens dates back in 1999, when Jargon (aka John Kosmidis, keyboards, vocals) and Nik Michailidis (bass) found Verbal Delirium, but a more stable line-up would occur around mid-00's with guitarist Giorgos Maniatis and drummer Lazaros Papanastasiou.After the 2007 demo "The imprisoned words of fear" both left the band and were replaced by Nikitas Kissonas and Tolis Liapis respectively.In 2009 Verbal Delirium recorded their debut ''So Close and Yet So Far Away'' at MI Studios in Athens, released the next year on Musea.By the time of the release the band was reduced to a trio with Liapis actually participating as a guest musician in the booklet notes, while the group had already found its replacement on Gregory Pavlakos.

The debut of the Greeks shows a band with excellent composing skills and a semi-personal style, trying to combine the heavy and psychedelic elements of PORCUPINE TREE with the dreamy still grandiose approach of modern Neo Prog groups like BELIEVE, VIENNA CIRCLE or NINE STONES CLOSE.The album is characterized by a variety of superb ideas, such as unusual chord progressions, ethereal melodies, bombastic orchestrations, some passionate groovy parts, while there are tons of changing climates even in the same track, which range from sensitive vocal parts to powerful and well-crafted instrumental themes.However these elements are mixed in a perfect way and the marriage between strong guitar riffs and distortions with warm vocal parts, dominant pianos and sharp synthesizers result a bunch of memorable musical themes.There is also certain Hogarth-era MARILLION-esque flavor in the music, especially on the great atmospheric passages, which is more than welcome.Additionally Verbal Delirium manage to keep a fantastic balance between gears and breaks in the album and this fact makes the listening even more fascinating.

Excellent debut for this Greek group.A real highlight of 2010 with musicianship that can be complicated, grandiose and melodic at the same time and with the same comfort.Grab this one immediately, no less than highy recommended.

Verbal Delirium is an indie and pretty unknown band from Greece. I discovered them on the Prog N Roll show of the JustIn Case radio. And I thought that the music was very great. From the awesome Dancing Generation to the beautiful The Scene Remains, this album shows a real talent. This band have to got a bigger reputation. If you like bands like Porcupine Tree, Sylvan or Marillion (Hogarth-era), Verbal Delirium is really a band that you have to check out. The singer Jargon have a real potential and could have a real and big career. So congralutations for this band, hope that the future with as good as their music.

This is the debut album of Jargon's brainchild, but who could ever tell that a band could reach such a level of quality in its first album! If you're not in for listening to a variety of styles melted into a single album, you may find yourselves confused with it, but of course this is not the case with the prog listeners. From the piano-driven intro Ervelet to the lashing OK to the claustrophobic They to the dancing vibes of Time to the tons of melancholy that come with Erased and Reprise to the heart-melting melodies of The Scene Remains, this album offers to the listener a wide variety of sounds and moods, which would mean nothing if they were not so tasteful. Too hard to pigeonhole it, but of course there is no reason to do so. Just give it a listen and figure it out for yourselves because I can't figure out how this band still goes under the radar of the prog fans.