UNEVEN

4,5 stars really!

Being aware that it might sound biased since SIEGES EVEN is coming from my home town I've to call them though one of the best German bands and every lover of Progmetal who listen to them will agree to this. This one is certainly their most hard-edged one (not considering their very first Thrash-Metal album) and almost on par with its predecessor maybe altogether a bit less accessible. Apart from the addition of brother of singer Greg Keller as keyboardist the line-up on here stayed the same as on "Sophisticated" which is a rare case in their band history. Guitar player Wolfgang Zenk and rhythm section consisting of Holzwarth brothers are doing a great job once again and with Greg Keller they found the best vocalist they've had ever before anyway. There's lots of excellent melodic but highly intricate prog metal on here and I dare saying it's supposed to be considered higher in quality than ANY album by DREAM THEATER and at least as good as the best ones by FATES WARNING. Everytime I'm listening to these guys I'm again blown away by the enormous virtuosity they show on their instruments without losing themselves in endless narcistic solo excesses at any time.

Highlights: "What if?", "Trainsong", "Love is as warm as tears"

Everyone liking the mentioned bands shouldn't miss this one! Absolutely a Must-Have in Progmetal genre!!

"Uneven" is the 5th full-length studio album by German progressive metal act Sieges Even. The album was released through Under Siege Records in 1997. It´s the successor to "Sophisticated" from 1995 and adds keyboard player Börk Keller to the lineup. Other than the addition of Keller, the lineup remins the same as on "Sophisticated (1995)".

The stable lineup has resulted in a stable sound and style too, because the material on "Uneven" is a natural continuation of the music style on "Sophisticated (1995)". Highly energetic, funk/jazz/fusion infused technical/progressive metal with loads of melodic themes, and a distinct sounding lead vocalist in Jogi Kaiser, who sometimes sound like he is the singer in a funk band and other times like he is singing on a Broadway musical. He´s got a great range, a powerful and distinct sounding voice, but his delivery is pretty surely an aquired taste.

The technical playing is through the roof on "Uneven" and the skillful and varied playing is one of the great assets of the album. The Holzwarth brothers Oliver (bass) and Alexander (drums) play some extremely challenging rhythms and bass lines, while guitarist Wolfgang Zenk constantly shows virtuosic playing and his great knowledge in many different musical styles. He can play neo-classical influenced power metal riffs and melodies one minute and the next rhythmically challenging funk riffs, and then the next moment intriguing melodic guitar solos and progressive metal complexities. That man is a genius on a guitar. As far as I know the two Sieges Even albums are unfortunately the only metal oriented releases he appears on.

"Uneven" is an album for the adventurous and open minded progressive metal listeners. It would be the last Sieges Even album featuring this lineup and this style before the band split-up in 1997. Upon their return in 2003 the lineup was different and the music style changed with the new members (one of them a returning Markus Steffen on guitars). Both "Sophisticated (1995)" and "Uneven" are quite unique sounding technical/progressive metal releases and while Sieges Even have certainly made other great albums, that´s the period in the band´s career, they released their most distinct sounding and unique material. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)