COLLAPSE THE WAVE

For years, IZZ has been releasing quality albums. Yet, the music created is constantly evolving and new nuggets are introduced to keep things fresh. They are one of the rare bands that improve with every release. On "Collapse the Wave" IZZ play with an enthusiastic energy to give us what could be their heaviest and most excellent album to date.

"We Are The 3rd" blasts out of the gate - loud and bold, heavy and confident - crushing all expectations. John's bass work, as always, is stellar. How can you not love a fat punchy "audible" growly bass tone? "So Many Voices" is a short piano driven ballad. "Brace For Impact" is a heavy rocking unusual tune, is that Paul signing? "Deep Inside" is a catchy poppy song with excellent signing by Laura. Next up is the title track. It begins with a jumpy jazzy pattern propelled by the tight rhythm section. I've always thought IZZ shine during instrumental moments, and that is heard through the first 2 1/2 minutes of this song. "Sometimes Sublime" is another slower tune showcasing acoustic guitar. Paul's guitar work is outstanding as always. "There's Hope!" is an up tempo song that has a definite Yes vibe. Nice vocal harmonies. "Breathren" is totally unexpected, a very short fierce percussive jam where the drummers, Brian and Greg, let loose. I only wish it lasted longer. Is it only me, or does the beginning of "Not About Me" sound like a Frost* song? Is that Jem or Tom signing? Most definitely one of the highlights for me. "Soak Up The Sunlight" is another upbeat tune with playful instrumental jams. The album ends with "And We Will Go". I dig the syncopated drum riffs and the urgency of the tune. Leaves you wanting more. Definate Yes vibes.

Overall, this is another great release from IZZ. The production and engineering also shine. Definitely a must have. 4.5 stars, and let's round up.

Absolutely gorgeous album by this great band!

I discovered IZZ thanks to this site in 2018 and I my taste for them and their related projects has been growing since them. Now, Collapse the Wave is their brand new album and it is one of the best of their career. Like on the previous album, there is a palpable Yes influence on the guitar, bass and keys (which is great to me), and this time there is more variation and dynamism. You can find soft melodic pieces such as Deep Inside, which could have been on a Laura Meade solo work, more experimental ones such as Brace for Impact, short ambient tracks like Brethren or true prog rock epics like We Are the 3rd or the title track, that are my absolute favourites here.

All in all, this is an album to listen quite a few times because is full of details, with a lot of variation in between the pieces and within them, so it never bores. A strong competitor for album of the year for sure.

There is a risk to writing excellent music; that is that the follow-up will not be as earth-shattering and thus disappoint. That is what happened here. If from most bands, Collapse the Wave would be impressive, if for the simple fact that it has no bad moments. But there is no "Don't Panic," Izz's 2019 title track. What a piece of ear candy THAT was! "Brace for Impact" is likely Collapse the Wave's strongest track. "And we will Go" is a strong runner-up, if not for the predictable synth solo. (Izz is scarcely alone in treading the cliche here; many prog bands of today want to include this '70s classic; how 'bout something unique and new instead?) Other tracks while good lack focus. Hey that can be said about 85% of all albums; High expectations are in place for Izz.

IZZ, a modern prog band from New York playing their own version of symphonic prog, has been around since the late 90's, but I only heard about them this year. This is their 10th album, and based on how great this is, I can only ask, why have I not heard of this band before now? This is fantastic! This band takes classic symphonic prog influences, mixes it with various other elements (including classical, jazz, pop, and theater) and a modern perspective, and creates something wonderful and new from it. Sure, you get glimpses of the various classic bands here, such as Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, Steely Dan, the Beatles, etc, but those elements quickly morph into something different and varied, and uniquely this band's own. One example of this is on There's Hope, which opens with some wild ELP-style keyboards, then goes into a Steely Dan groove for the verse, then changes again for a more acoustic folky chorus, then continues on to a rousing finish. Great keyboard and guitar work, as well as 2 drummers providing expressive drums and percussion. They feature 2 male vocalists and a female vocalist wich leads to very dynamic vocals and harmonies and great interplay among them, which adds another dimension to their sound. The album contains 11 songs (53 min runtime), all great, featuring many different styles from song to song (and within songs), but it all fits together and feels consistent and cohesive (no jarring disconnects as the styles change). A quite wonderful album and a must for fans of classic (and modern) prog. Best tracks: Collapse the Wave, Sometimes Sublime, Not About Me, Deep Inside, We Are the 3rd, There's Hope, And We Will Go. Rating: 4.5 stars

I don't think there has been a change in the IZZ line-up, but to be honest I can't be sure as I cannot find any notification of Anmarie Byrnes leaving the band, and I am sure she has been playing gigs with them recently, but for whatever reason she does not appear on their new album. Her absence is the only difference between the line-up which has been together for some years of Paul Bremner (electric & acoustic guitars), Brian Coralian (electronic & acoustic drums & percussion), Greg DiMiceli (acoustic drums & percussion), John Galgano (bass, electric & acoustic guitars, vocals), Tom Galgano (keyboards, vocals) and Laura Meade (vocals). Yep, two drummers, a few singers and guitarists, this certainly gives the impression of being a prog act even before putting it on the player, and within seconds that knowledge is made concrete.

I sometimes think that IZZ are one of the best kept secrets in Progdom, as although they have been around for quarter of a century, and every album I have heard of theirs is a masterpiece, they are not often mentioned in the top echelon of modern prog bands, and this is just wrong! Interestingly I often see reviews which start with the words 'why have I not come across these guys before now?', so if that applies for you then you need to start listening to them now. Laura can often be found fronting a jazz trio, and on 'There's Hope' she allows her jazz stylings to come through, but for the most part this is Gentle Giant and Yes inspired music which takes us back in time to the Golden Age. There is nothing Neo about this band, they are true symphonic prog through and through, harmony vocals, incredible musicianship, great hooks and a true love of all things prog.

With multiple lead singers, who can all provide stunning harmonisations, it is not surprising we get lengthy passages with the three singing, but there are also plenty of others where the vocals are absent but not missed at all. Take the short instrumental, 'Brethren', where the two drummers show just how much fun they can have when allowed to run riot. The one band they sometimes remind me of who also came out in the last thirty years is Discipline, another act who refuse to conform and take their influences from the same period.

IZZ have produced yet another dynamic and exciting prog album which is melodic, accessible, and just a downright great listen. It has been five years since the last album, let us hope it is not so long to the next one.

One of the best USA prog bands, standing proud alongside the likes of Spocks Beard and Echolyn, they adopted a slightly heavier, crisper style of symphonic prog back in the late 90's and arguably reached their zenith with the much acclaimed release Don't Panic. That particlular album hasn't left my I-pod in the last 5 years or so since it was released! This latest album doesn't seem quite as focused and also lacks the epic of that aforementioned album. Nevertheless this is still an impressive and eclectic album by this collective of brilliant musicians. Songs / Tracks Listing 1. We Are the 3rd (8:31) 2. So Many Voices (1:38) 3. Brace for Impact (4:30) 4. Deep Inside (4:24) 5. Collapse the Wave (7:01) 6. Sometimes Sublime (6:19) 7. There's Hope! (5:02) 8. Brethren (1:01) 9. Not About Me (5:11) 10. Soak Up the Sunlight (5:39) 11. And We Will Go (3:46) Total Time 53:02 Not quite a masterpiece of modern progressive rock music, I would give 4.5 stars , rounded down 4 stars.