VERTICAL HORIZON

In his fifth studio album the Dutch band CASUAL SILENCE, presents us a work, that it is not brought splendorous moments of virtuosity In their 9 tracks, it presents, however, a lot of inspiration and competence in the form how it develops and it "arranges" the several instrumental and vocal themes that form each music . The influences that I could notice, although in a discreet way, it comes majority of the Norwegian band MAGIC PIE and in smaller proportion , some influences of the German band INÉS. the album in itself presents a balance without the presence of great "picks" or weak moments. Based on guitar duets , that alter between rhythm and solo , acoustics and electric, a rhythmic section that it presents some moments of subtileness and others of aggressiveness (that approximates the sound of the band of the Prog-metal), a keyboard with neo and symphonic-prog nuances and the captivating vocal of Rob Laarhoven, the disk is extremely pleasant for fans of several styles of progressive music (heavy, neo & prog metal). I highlight among other the tracks 3 "Vertical Horizon", for the interesting duel keyboards / eletric guitar. Track 4 "Now You're Gone " where there is a passage that begins by 2 min 36 sec, that reminded me a lot of MAGIC PIE . the track 5 " My 5th Season " a stylized ballad and full of energy, and the track 8 "Dangerous Disguise" where the band reaches the best moment of technical development in whole the disk. My rate is 4 stars!!!

Casual Silence is back, and what an album they release this year, excellent. The band needed almost 4 years to come with a fresh new album , the previous one was from 2007, the album is entitled Vertical horizon and is one great album for sure. I have a soft spot for this band, after I've heared couple of years before 2 of their albums Once in ablue moon (still my fav CS album) and previous one Lost in life I was completly hooked on their music. This time is no diffrent, excellent new album, very strong musicians, great compositions, what else a realy great surprise, for me at least. This band needs to be more in front of the prog rock scene, but with sad thought I must say, that 2 days ago I've found that Casual Silence stops making new music after almost 20 years career, what a realy bad news was for me, damn. Why always great bands with excellent album must quit, but after all they know better then me what was the reson. So, what we have here, on this final album under the name of Casual Silence, who knowns maybe in the near future the musicians will gather under diffrent name, I hope, we have a very solid progressive rock album with all the ingredients to become one of the top of 2011, but I really doubt it , because I'm among the few who know this band, you can deduce from the numer of the ratings and reviews. The music offered is realy solid, excellent passages, very mature work, the musicians are very confident in their skils, lenghy pieces and above all some fine vocal lines. What is great aswell on this band and on this album specific is that Casula Silence has 3 vocalists, Ernst le Cocq who is also the guitar player, Eric Smits who is the bass player and main voice the brilliant Rob Laarhoven, why I mentioned this because all 3 voice are puted together in the title track , sounded very theatrical but so great, among the best pieces Casual Silence ever wrote, another highlight is the opening track The Other Side and last tune Dangerous Disguise. Lots of great guitar parts, hammong interluded like glove on hand with the rest of the musicians, very mature work who btw happened to be their swan song. I can't say this is their best album from their catalogue, in the entire career of almost 20 years they released only 4 studio albums, aan EP, a demo adn some acustical versions of known pieces from prog zone, not very musch, but in their case the quality is first not quantity, realy. What a great band and never got the attention they desaerve. Thsi album is for sure 4 stars for me, recommended. I still like better Once in ablue moon but this new album is second best for sure. Recommended as I said one of the best albums in last years and needed to be as on top as usch this year because they desearve.