OBSERVANTS

Second release from the Swede alternative heavy proggers, after their very interesting debut 'Mask of Air', and another testimony that heavy prog is on the up. Switching slightly from the TMV-inspired debut to melodies that resemble mostly Tool and Karnivool, Vulkan deliver a mature (even if slightly short) piece of work.

The album is built around four mid-to-long duration compositions that start off shyly on the rhythm section and evolve on pounding riffs in the vein of The Kindred. The songs typically reach their peak towards the end with great vocal melodies that leave you wanting more. The tracks are built around the bass lines of Vincent Andren and the excellent keyboard interventions by David Engström. Indie/alternative elements from Radiohead and Muse make their appearance here and there and blend really well with Vulkan's modern alternative heavy prog style.

Despite the heavy burden from their influences, which leaves little room to manoeuvre on the originality front, the structure of the album, the variations and technical prowess of the band contribute to an excellent result. For friends of Tool, Karnivool, The Kindred, 'Observants' might make your top-list of 2016.

Best track: Consequence of Ignorance

4 (-) stars