TERRAFORM

Terraform is the second album by Jupiter Society, a project instigated and lead by Carptree member Carl Westholm. And it pretty much continues where the first one ended, although with a few twists in the musical department.

The name of the game here as on the debut is a blend of progressive metal, space rock and symphonic prog, with an emphasis on the first of these stylistic expressions. And indeed, if someone does think Ayreon at this stage you'll have a point, there is a similarity in the musical elements used and the overall sound - although in this case Arjen Lucassen's Star One project is somewhat closer.

Jupiter Society is a much darker take on this form of space metal though. Heavy, thundering riffs that will make many think of Black Sabbath, and some of doom metal outfit Candlemass, is the main metal component here. Space-tinged electronic sounds and dramatic symphonic synths adds flavouring, and with quite a few both mellow and ambient passages added to most of the tracks. But whether thundering heavy, Wagnerian dramatic or new age-tinged ambient in expression - there's a brooding darkness to all parts of this album - much more so than on it's predecessor.

It's a very well made album too, and as with the first chapter in what will hopefully be a long series of releases, pretty close to pure brilliance but not quite up there with the instant classics yet.

'Terraform' was the second album from the project led by keyboard player Carl Westholm (Carptree, Krux, Candlemass) who brought together friends and colleagues from his other bands plus some others to follow on from where the debut left off (given that 'First Contact/Last Warning' only came out the year before perhaps that isn't too much of a surprise). Musically here is someone who has been heavily influenced by Devin Townshend, but then brought in some Ayreon to produce something that is full of balls and wall to wall guitars but also with a real progressive sensibility. It is intense, extremely well produced, and the singers manage to just about stay in front of the music as everyone here is determined to make themselves heard.

Given that both Carl and singer Mats Levén (also Therion, Malmsteen, Krux etc) are in Candlemass it is probably no surprise at all that these guys really know when and how to really belt it out. But, as well as the monstrous riffs (with superb bass and drums in support) from both guitars and keyboards, there is also room for more quiet and gentler interludes that emphasise the heaviness that is going on. This is prog metal that is slightly more metallic than it is progressive, but with plenty of both to make this of interest to anyone who wants their progressive rock to be anything but introspective and restrained. www.jupitersociety.se