ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Casual Silence is a relativ young dutch band and fairly new in progressive metal scene, even they are together under this named since 1995. Over the years releasing some demos and a full lenght album in 1197, they didn't manage to get some attention only last decade with their second release from 2003 named Once in a blue moon. With this album Casual Silence grew a lot in musical terms and in manner of composing over their previous releases. Some of the songs from here were presented on some of the earlier demos but doesn't mean the album is old, contrary it sounds very fresh and damn solid IMO. The album sounds very consistent to my ears, very solid musicianship, excellent songewritting and catchy melodies. I was very pleasent surprised when I bought this album from Musea records along with their next one. I knew I will get something great because, here it features among others the excellent musician Henry Meeuws, also known from Medea (another great duch prog metal band), a band that I enjoyed very much , and aswell I reviewed their second album fiew months ago. So a good aqusition for me. The music Casual Silence offers is not the tipycal prog metal album, I mean is not a metalized album, is more towards the finess of this genre, and only here and there has a more metal edge. Overall the album is lighter more towards symphonic side of prog metal, very solid compositions, great ideas, very good are the keyboards played by the main man of the band Henry Meeuws who melted like gloves with the guitar arrangements, excellent played parts. Beside the great pieces, who by the way all are great , not a single weak moment, the sound is cristal clear, seriously it's pretty rae these days to here an album sounding so clean and so positive, superb is aswell the cover art made by Erwin Munsters. Here is aswell a guest , a female voice who is to be heared on Foolish plane, she alternates with male vocals giving a real solid piece. I will give 4 stars easy, one of the most complete prog metal albums I've heared lately, recommended for sure. While the band is still very unnoticed in prog circles, I strongly recommend to be heared this album because worth every second. Great