NO TRESPASSING

Russian born composer and keyboardist Andrew Roussak serves up a nice production with this creation.

Symphonic rock is the name of the game here, explored in several variations. Classical compositions, psalms and hard-rock tinged flavours of this style are all explored with skill and ease; virtuosic instrumentals and regular songs with a typical verse and chorus structure are both explored; and all variations of styles and sounds fits right in too.

Skilled mix and production highlighting the moods and melodies helps create a distinct album feel to this creation, and although a skilled keyboard player it's the overall performance that is the focal point rather than Roussak's individual performance.

Perhaps somewhat lacking in the brilliant tunes department, this is still an enjoyable release; that should cater for the tastes of many people into symphonic rock music.

Andrew Roussak is a russian keybordist moved to Germany years ago where he become profesional musician. It's a real good keybordist from today whre his skills melted very well with melodical and smooth arrangements. he is also member in progressive metal band from germany Dorian Opera. His first studio album from 2006 named No trespassing is a good album, where his ideas are well puted in musical arrangements. he is helped by a bunch of guy who to tell the truth never heared of, but did a good job. All album is ok, in some parts even great, specialy the instrumental pieces like Prelude, Wartime Chronicles , great musicianship with beautiful keybords elements. The main aproach to his music is symphonic prog melted with eclectic moments and here and there some more roughr moments aswell. What I don't realy enjoy is the voice of Hendrik Plachtzik, he is ok, but to many times very flat in vocal attitude, I mean he is to shy and his range not realy excellent, but in the end not bad, only ok and nothing more. I like Roussak's keybords escapades in some parts, realy great. So, overall a good album, little to mechanical or sintetic in atmosphere, but not bad realy. 3 stars for sure. He just released in octomber 2010 his second album named Blue intermezzo available at Musea records.

Classical-trained keyboardisty/pianist Andrew Roussak was born in 1968 in Ufa, Russia, and after taking piano lessons and becoming an arranger at the local studio Nerve, he relocated in Germany in 2001.He had been a member of Heavy/Power Metal Stormwitch , before focusing on offering his personal-writen material taped on an album, which was meant to be the 2006 release ''No trespassing'' on MALS Records with the help among others by Stormwitch'es guitarist and bassist Oliver Weislogel and Jürgen Wannenwetsch respectively.

Here Roussak moves away from from his metal-driven familiar style to offer a classic-styled Symphonic Rock album, filled with Classical interludes, piano workouts and tremendous synth solos.Even more importantly the delivery of the album closes the likes of a tight full-time band than an egocentric composer, so the sound of this work is nicely balanced.The tracks are split between instrumental offerings and catchy sung material with an accesible edge, yet always filled with demanding instrumental parts.Roussak's education is evident throughout, from the lovely piano passages to the bombastic synth flashes and the groovy organs, but even when his keyboards remain in the background, they still can create a grandiose atmosphere.Some heavier tracks with powerful guitar breaks have a strong late-90's DREAM THEATER vibe, but the majority of the album is keyboard-based Symphonic Rock close to BLEZQI ZATSAZ, TEMPUS FUGIT, JAIME ROSAS or TESIS ARSIS.The only serious flaws of the album are maybe the voice of singer Hendrik Plachtzik, a decent one but far from suitable to the particular style, and the uninteresting jazzy/soul approaches on a couple of tracks, totally unrelated to the bombastic sound of the rest of the release.

Anyone into serious keyboard-driven Progressive Rock, far from egoistic performances, as well as lovers of Symphonic Rock should be the first to chase for this nice effort.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Andrew Roussak is keyboard player with Dorian Opera, but this is a solo album where he has composed all of the material (apart from two classical pieces by Bach) and has been joined by some guests so that at times this does sound like a band project. Normally progheads are the most forgiving music fans when it comes to different styles, but I am not sure that many would be expecting lounge in the middle of what is predominantly a prog album, witness "Do Without Me". But, do you know what? I think it works to a large extent, just not within the context of the album as a whole. But, this is a solo album and part of the reason for recording outside of the band context is that the musician is free to do whatever he/she likes and obviously Andrew feels that it belongs.

However, overall this is a very enjoyable album with some very strong passages. The vocals aren't always as powerful as they might be, but they work well with the music. This is melodic neo-prog that is firmly middle of the road in that it isn't challenging any musical boundaries, but it is extremely accessible and enjoyable even on first hearing and at the end of the day isn't music there to be enjoyed? I feel it could have done with more push and power but for a debut solo this is a worthwhile effort and it will be interesting to see where Andrew goes from here. www.andrew-roussak.com