WORMWOOD

BADER NANA is a composer and instrumentalist based in Kuwait City, and following tenures as a guitarist in one band and drummer in another he decided to start a solo career a few years back. "Wormwood" is his debut album, initially digitally released in 2011, but later officially issued by the Russian label MALS Records in the fall of 2012.

Bader Nana's debut album "Wormwood" is a creation that should find favor amongst those with a taste for mainstream oriented progressive metal as well as those who enjoy neo progressive rock of the harder edged variety. I surmise, fans of artists like Spock's Beard and Ayreon will make up the main target audience for this production, but those with a taste for bands similar to Sylvan should also find plenty to enjoy on this disc.

Bader Nana's Wormwood is a pay-what-you-will download available from the Kuwait-based musician's Bandcamp. Other releases available on his page include metal renditions of themes from computer game soundtracks and a collection of acoustic Michael Jackson covers, so I wasn't sure what to expect here; in fact, what you get is a charmingly realised album in a melodic prog vein reminiscent of the softer side of Ayreon.

Recorded at Bader's own studio in Kuwait City, evidently at the group's own expense, there are a few parts where more polish might have been helpful but on balance it's a very credible effort which makes me interested to hear more from Bader, though given how eclectic his other solo releases are I suspect it might be hard to predict when we'll hear more. Certainly, Bader does a good job of dipping his toe into the melodic side of Dream Theater's territory, but he doesn't offer a great many musical surprises in store here and for long stretches of the album you wouldn't know whether this was Bader Nana playing or Anonymous Mid-Atlantic Melodic Prog Band No. 254; hopefully future releases will display a bit more of a distinct personality.

A young Lebanese musician and artwork designer, Bader Nana plays multiple instruments and his most well-known collaboration was with the Extreme Metal band Benevolent from Kuwait.Since 2009 Nana had resided to Kuwait City and started recording his personal albums, kicking off with an acoustic tribute to famous Michael Jackson's pieces, followed in 2011 by the ''Wormwood'' album, containing original material.Nana receives little help by a pair of guests in a couple of synth and guitar solos, the rest of the album being totally performed by himself.

With an undenied love for current and past Prog Metal/Rock acts such as PINK FLOYD, TRANSATLANTIC, SYMPHONY X, DREAM THEATER and SPOCK'S BEARD, Nana managed to put up an album with some reasonable flaws, considering this is a one man's effort, but also a work full of sheer passion and rich arrangements.His vocals are quite nice, modern sounding and fairly expressive, while the music talks of Nana's talent.Powerful and dynamic pieces with sharp guitar riffs, keyboard-based orchestrations, Neo Prog-like melodies and bombastic passages.Nana shows a tendency to combine the heavier and more angular side of Progressive Rock, characterized by his metallic riffing and the fiery synthesizers, with the smoother side of the genre, including acoustic textures, nice electric melodic tunes and mellow songwriting.It kind of reminds me of PENDRAGON's later stuff with doses of more recent acts such as RIVERSEA, COSMOGRAF or NINE STONES CLOSE.The long closer ''Destroyer of worlds'' is the perfect example of his musical influences, being a well-constructed piece of Prog Metal, FLOYD-ian soundscapes and grandiose Neo/Symphonic Prog with very good guitar parts and extended orchestral moves, filled with some impressive breaks.

A talented artist from the depth of Asia comes to remind us that Prog music is a worldwide affair.Music played with passion and energy, wrapped in tight and enjoyable pieces.Recommended.