SNOVI

Snovi hail from Pula, Croatia and were formed around 2009 by Marino Bursic on guitar, Branko Crnogorcic on drums, Marko Kalcic on bass and Roberta Paljar on keyboards.In 2011 they launched their self-titled debut on bandcamp, which came also in a set of physical CD copies.Three guests are also listed among the album's partcipants: Branko Radic, Tatiana Giorgi Crnogorcic and Toni Pernic.

The sound here is somewhere between Heavy Prog and Atmospheric Rock with certain PORCUPINE TREE references and similarities to bands like ALLOMERUS, NINE STONES CLOSE, STEAM THEORY and 25 YARD SCREAMER.The emphasis is on the excellent, heavy guitar riffs, the light psychedelic elements and the stoner grooves, which are complemented with the use of orchestral keyboards and the display of discreet electronics.The atmosphere ranges from aggressive moods to spacious themes and there are even moments, when the band passes into very epic proportions, especially via the exhibition of some impressive choirs.Otherwise the sound is all instrumental with pure energy and passionate musicianship, led by the rhythmic patterns and the contemporary stylings of effects and loops.A few pieces contain also some charming acoustic parts with the omnipresent use of background keyboards, while the last and longest track '' Skylla'' follows a more Prog Metal vein with Fusion touches, highlighted by the tricky guitar plays.Impressive and energetic instrumental Prog Rock all the way.

A band to keep an eye on.Snovi's debut is a great example of cinematic atmospheres meeting progressive elements and comes warmly recommended.

Croatian band SNOVI was formed back in 2008, initially consisting of the formative duo of Bursic and Crnogorcic, if I read their history correctly, with Kalcic and Paljar joining in 2009 and 2010 respectively. They self-released their self-titled debut album in 2011.

This debut album by the Croatian band Snovi is one to seek out for those with a taste for music generally described as space rock, in this case of a kind and a nature that aren't all that comparable with other players in this field in terms of sound and execution. A space rock album for those who wants to experience a band not adhering to more or less established traditions perhaps, but with the ongoing futuristic elements you would expect by a band referenced as exploring space rock.