INSIGHT

Hyskal is a progressive metal band from France formed early this decade and released so far a single album in 2005 named Insight at Brennus Music. Clearly influenced by Dream Theater, Hyskal manage to create a pleasent album all the way, nothing spectacular or original, but enjoyble. They are as many said followers in prog metal, because they go on a path that already bitten by many bands from this genre, but as I said while they are nothing close to an essential listnig , this album is pleasent and complex enought to be fully appreciated by prog metal fans. From the beggining I must add that I never heared a progressive metal band who has such large parts of saxophone elements in their music, such massive use of this instrument, but in the end a good thinking to interlude with the rest and give a special atmosphere for sure. This instrument is used not only as background , but as solo instrument with catchy motifs who on some pieces last more then 5 min, very good melting with the guitar, bass specially with guitar, quite intristing arrengements. Ok, the rest of the traditional are not left behind, they have their role here, keybords sound from atmospheric to more rough in places but I think the best passages are made by this instrument. The guitar did a good job, special for prog metal, but nothing groundbreaking, the drums are ok, the voice of Adrien Gautier is good but sometimes lacking in good range, a little mediocre in places, but ok. I can't extract a pieces to be better then other, they melted very well together and flowing very good from each other. 3- 3.5 stars, a good album for sure, but nothing realy impressive, anyway worth some spins if you are a fan of prog metal.