S.U.S.A.R.

This effort is impressive, to say the least. When I first heard this record I cursed all those who should have recommended it to me earlier! Indukti is a Polish prog metal band with a twist: excellent compositions that are simultaneously technical and ethereal. As an added bonus, they have a violin, which adds a surprising amount of fine texture to the already thick compositions.

The album starts with the instrumental rocker 'Freder', a track that establishes the band's technical prowess as well as their ear for structure. 'Cold Inside' introduces the guest vocalist from Riverside. His vocals are good overall, but they aren't what they could be. Honestly I would favor them more if they were less plentiful and less present in the mix. The melody is a nice addition, but I think the violin already provides plenty of it. 'No. 11812' is another brilliant instrumental that flows through several complex changes. The next track is another one I feel I would like better without vocals. The singer's voice reminds me too much of a Creed-era alt rock band on this one. 'Uluru' is yet another fine instrumental piece featuring some really incredible work from all the instrumentalists, particularly the violin and bass. Some of the most interesting and complicated violin work I have ever heard is contained in the track 'No. 11811' (though I don't pretend to be any sort of expert on violin music). The final track is also excellent.

This is a fantastic debut from this band, who should appeal to all fans of prog metal, particularly Tool fans, as well as fans of psychedelic/space rock. The one major flaw with this album in my opinion is the inclusion of any vocalist. Brilliant instrumental bands should realize what they've got and not ruin it with a mediocre singer or uninspired lyrics. This album is not absolutely essential, but is quite excellent, and I look forward to hearing more from this band!

INDUKTI isa Prog-Metal band?Then I'm a Prog-Metal die-hard fan!!! :-))) OK,don't know about Metal,but there's as much Prog as you can imagine!!!A bombastic mixture of early ANEKDOTEN with TOOL gave a bit predictable but fine result - one of the best releases from the year 2005!!!God,I love Poland!!!I'm so jealous - we're neighbours,but there's something wrong with Ukrainian Prog scene,because there's no one AT ALL :-( !!! OK,back to INDUKTI - superb musicianship,"live-at-the-studio" record,huge potential and unquestionable talent(the only flaw is lame cover artwork).I want some more from them!!!Highly recommended!!!

This is one of the best records I have heard in some time. I just am having trouble expressing in words what my ears have heard. Often when a new band comes upon the scene and everybody is raving about them, it's all hype. You finally get the record and you wonder what the fuss was all about, the expectations were too high. Well I can asure you this Polish band surpassed my expectations and then some.

The first song "Freder" starts softly with some gentle harp (is there any other kind ?) then around the two minute mark they start to kick in.THEY'VE KICKED IN ! Big time ! Then the violin comes in, then they back off, then they kick in again ! The violin plays over the heavy drums and guitar. Absolutely loving it ! "Cold Inside" is a beautiful dreamy song with acoustic guitars and the amazing warm voice of RIVERSIDE's Duda. Great song !

"No-11812" is an instrumental. Scorching guitar with drums out front and heavy, and lots of great violin play. "Shade" features Duda again, and you can't help but be reminded of RIVERSIDE. "Uluru" is bone crushingly heavy, I love the combination of bass guitar and drums with some great guitar lines thrown in the mix topped off with a hefty dose of violin. "No-11811" is another fantastic instrumental. We're not worthy ! Next up is "Weak", the longest track and part 2 of the second song "Cold Inside". I like the bass playing on this one and it ends as the record opened with some harp melodies.

This is a masterpiece, i'm so impressed. Bravo !

3,5 stars really!

Indukti's debut album has been promoted by Laser's Edge with the description that the music lies somewhere between Crimson, Tool and Neurosis. Somehow good (for this young talented band) that I haven't read this before buying it since only the first name would have triggered my interest. On the other hand there might be no better comparison and for sure all these bands have in common that they're making dark music. I would say what Indukti is offering us here does not sound quite as versatile and adventurous as Crimson, but like them they're using violin as an addition what does as well Neurosis whose music's a bit too much doom metal-oriented and humdrum though. Certainly Tool will come to one's mind when listening to this album, but especially due to the addition of violin and harp Indukti's music sounds much warmer than theirs and therefore could fascinate me right from the beginning whereas Tool still fails to hit my attraction after numerous trials.

"Freder" opens the album in a very untypical way (at least for Progmetal) with harp (!). Actually I hardly recall any band in this sub-genre using that instrument, I think German band Haggard did sometimes. After this very soft introduction bass and violin play are setting in slowly and the track moves into more heavy territory with bone-crushing dual guitar attacks. The violin and wordless vocals (probably provided by guest-singer Mariusz Duda) are contributing a nice oriental touch in a way. But taking away the violin and harp this track leaves some kind of deja-vu. Overall not a bad one but not extraordinary either since it's becoming a bit too uniform after a few spins. (7/10)

"Cold Inside." reminds very strongly to Riverside not only due to the fact that the singer is the same. A nice atmospheric song but after a few spins not that much convincing anymore. And though I like Duda's vocals very much I've to say there are much better songs than this one on Riverside's second album. (6/10)

"No. 11812" is so far the strongest track starting again with harp play by guest Anna Faber followed by very nice and soaring bass/violin interplay. Then there are a few heavy guitar attacks thrown in and the awesome and ecstatic violin provided by Ewa Jablonska is omnipresent throughout the rest of the track. Just a pity that overall this one becomes once again too uniform which keeps me off from giving it the full score (8/10)

"Shade" is another track with vocals by Mariusz Duda and like "Cold Inside" one of the shorter ones and another one that's only quite nice but anything special either. I must say that these two vocal songs are a bit redundant on here and if I like to listen to his voice I'd prefer "Second Life Syndrome" instead. Probably this (already quite good) debut album would have become even stronger if the band would have kept it fully instrumental and made the compositions a bit more versatile and elaborate instead. (6/10)

"Uluru" starts with some didgeridoo and continues with powerful (but not that much inspired) drumming, furious violin play and heavy guitar riffing. This is a quite heavy track compared to most of the rest of the album, at least in its first two thirds. In its last third a few pads of harp tunes are thrown in again and this instrument is closing as well the track after a short silence. Once again a bit more of variation would have raised the score. (7/10)

"No. 11811" starts with some staccato rhythms by guitar before violin is setting in with a nice soaring atmosphere accompanied. Around the middle of the track the tempo is raised up and it becomes quite heavy but unfortunately as well a bit uniform. Still next to its "twin brother" in title one of the highlights on this album. (8/10)

".and weak II" is actually the second part of "Cold Inside." and therefore repeating the same theme just without vocals here but played very well on violin and dual guitars. Once again this track's going more up-tempo after a while before some amplifier effects followed by harp tunes are closing it. I prefer this one a lot to its first part I've to say and somehow it represents a perfect closure for this album. (7/10)

The bonus video is a nice animation about a cute little robot but actually not that great to change anything about the overall rating. So finally I come to a rating of 70 % for this fine debut of this young and talented Polish band. It's not an excellent album nor would I consider it an essential one but I'd like to say that Indukti is certainly a very promising band with highly skilled musicians and I'm still expecting great things to come from them.

Inspired septet that carves chunks of molten rock while carefully balancing under a delicate chamber duo.. and they do something else, they make it work. Finally someone has made a heavy metal record that is both truly metal and truly progressive (though many would argue it is neither). Not to mention pristinely recorded, intricately arranged, and laced throughout with lovely passages of harp (Anna Faber), violin (Ewa Jablonska) and the rivet-tight rhythms of Maciek Adamczyk (bass) and Wawrzyniec Dramowicz (drums). But lest we forget this is a metal band, the guitars of Piotr Kocimski and Maciej Jaskiewicz bring us back into the fight as this Polish dreadnaught smashes its way to the front of the Progmetal stage and pushes a much-maligned genre forward. Some Tool, some Crimson, a dash of Riverside and a drop or two of NeBeLNeST - though not as vocal-oriented as most of those groups - and you've got yourself a scrumptious meal that will fill you up and warm your tummy.

I've been Indukted, and I think you should be an Induktee, too...

Now, I am not generally what you would call a metal fan. When I do listen to metal, it's usually a classic like Black Sabbath, or Iron Maiden. So, when someone told me I had to check out INDUKTI, I was skeptical. However, since I was going to be seeing them live, I felt obligated. Oh what a pleasant surprise. Of course there was a chance I was going to like it, but I never expected to absolutely love it.

This band is heavy, and can blow your eardrums out, but they are also capable of the most delicate beauty. The most obvious reason for this is the fact that they have a violinist. But, that is not the only explanation. This group is made up of excellent musicians, and the compositions are extremely well crafted. The music can take you from a speed metal jam-out to a bit of quiet melancholia, and you won't even flinch. It is all on the dark side, but there is a beautiful poignancy in much of it. Complexity is also a key factor. They could hold their own with many of my Symphonic faves. Just to mix things up, there are also a few Middle-Eastern sounds thrown in here and there. But, I guess you would have to say that it is indicative of the current Eastern European prog scene. I don't know what's going on over there, but it's inspiring some great music (especially in Poland).

The only downside is that it does get a bit repetitive at times. I say, so what? This is one album that could be put on continuous repeat, and I wouldn't mind. It's a fantastic debut, and has me very exited to see what they will do on the follow up. Honestly, this is a 4.5 star album. My policy is to round up, so it gets five.

H.T. Riekels

"I'm running with my shade, crying out, howling out to find the place"

SUSAR is all about textures and the shades can be subtle. The grey-purple colors of the front and back cover are indicative, the music being wave after wave of heavy sound and imagery, blighted industrial buildings, leaden-smoke.like riding on a bullet train into a black hole. There are contrasts in the "color" of the sound and there is motion, both of which are depicted in the cover and exhaustively pursued over the spread of the album. Crimson and Tool are oft-mentioned in reviews of this album but don't let those associations form a notion for you. There are metal, space rock, industrial, and experimental elements at play here and SUSAR defies easy explanation.

Strap on your seat belts. Tracks average around 7 minutes in length and are primarily instrumental. I can really only describe the music in an abstract and general manner, as a whole. Tracks will have mellower passages that build, bit by bit, layer by layer, until reaching often crushing sledge-hammer riffage. The double guitar assault is primarily chunk rhythm and riff based leaving the violin to act as the soloing vehicle, which is one aspect that gives SUSAR a unique sound. The bass and drums are both superb and inventive adding much to the construction of these architectural sound pieces. Vocals are used sparsely and provide yet another shade when they do come in, the lyrics being dreamy and dark. Anna Faber contributes sections on the harp which succeed in bringing an exotic feel to the table. The most prevalent "shade" is tension, frenetic, gnawing, without much relief. The violins really impart this nervewracking experience, almost like the soundtrack of a dream where you're being chased. It is not always pleasant and I have to be in the mood or the tension can just drive me batty. But it is a unique and interesting slab of prog metal that deserves a chance to woo you. I appreciate the album being under 50 minutes in length, the band realizing that always throwing 75 minutes at a listener because the technology avails it is not necessary doing anyone any favors.

Recommended to any fan of heavy, crushing, chilling, (mostly) instrumental, sometimes dissonant mood metal.

"S.U.S.A.R" is the debut full-length studio album by Polish progressive rock act Indukti. The album was released through the independent label Off the Records in September 2004, but saw an international release through The Laser's Edge in September 2005. Indukti was originally founded under the Vein monicker, but changed their name to Indukti in 1999. They´ve released a demo and a couple of independent EPs before the release of this album.

The music on the album is predominantly instrumental prog rock with slight metal leanings. The metal elements are reduced to the occasional power chord metal riff section, so it´s not a dominant part of the band´s music. In that respect Indukti reminds me of another contemporary Polish act in Riverside who also plays progressive rock with occassional use of more metal oriented riffing. Riverside frontman Mariusz Duda guests on "S.U.S.A.R" which further enhances the validity of that comparison. To my ears the tracks where Mariusz Duda guests, which are "Cold Inside...I" and "Shade", could more or less have been Riverside tracks, while the predominantly longer instrumental tracks, which make out the rest of the 7 track, 47:43 minutes long album, all feature moments that sound similar to Riverside´s sound but it´s on those tracks where Indukti begins to show some of their own identity. The album features a dark mood throughout and it´s generally a very atmospheric release.

Indukti´s lineup includes a violinist in Ewa Jablonska (in addition to "regular" rock instrumentation of guitars, bass, and drums) who has a big part in creating the band´s sound. The rest of the band are very well playing too though and the interplay between the band members is generally on a very high level. "S.U.S.A.R" features a well sounding production too, and upon conclusion it´s through and through a high quality album. The music could maybe have prospered from a slightly more personal sound, and with that in mind the choice to include Duda as a guest vocalist probably wasn´t the wisest choice if the band didn´t want Riverside comparisons thrown at them, but everything else on this album screams quality, and therefore a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating isn´t all wrong.

One of the best heavy albums I have ever heard.

S.U.S.A.R. is at this time Indukti's only album, but boy does it deliver! The style found here is very different from other bands in the same genre, mainly because they have managed to marry classical and metal. Here's the real kicker: It's actually good!

From the moment I heard the opening of the first track all the way until the final note on the album died away, I was never bored, preoccupied or unimpressed. Few bands can entrance me so, but Indukti has done it with this release. If it ends up being their only work, well then they can be proud of what they have accomplished, and will most likely go down in history much like Anglagard for accomplishing so much with so little content.

This record single-handedly turns heavy rock onto its head and never shies away from the fact that it is different. In fact, Indukti seem to wave this oddball flag proudly, unafraid to compose nearly ten- minute-long epics already on their first studio effort. That takes guts, but what is more, it takes talent to pull it off as well as they have.

The vocals heard here (when they are present) are much more like tribal chanting than actual song melodies, but don't let that discourage you. In fact, this aspect strengthens the record significantly. The guitar playing here is simple but exact, with some truly hypnotizing rhythm patterns a la Meshuggah's Marten Hagstrom, and some truly random, out-of-this-world soloing that is reminiscnent of Adam Jones. The drums are very good as well, helping keep that mystic, celtic feel to the music with truly terrific tribal pounding. The bass is fair, and really pops when the rest of the instruments take breathers, but is possibly the weakest aspect of the traditional line-up.

Now, for the aspect that truly makes Indukti unique: In addition to the traditional rock instruments, there is also a violin and a harp that accompanies the electric playing. My oh my, how wonderfull this makes the music. It is THE most crucial element, because frankly without these classical instruments present, the music would not be nearly as impressive to me. However, when paired up against the heavy sounds, these lighter string instruments truly enhance the experience by a factor of ten. While the rhythm guitar may be pounding away without mercy, the violin may be playing something much more soothing overtop of it, giving the music a weird sort of balance that actually magaes to compliment the other. Any time you match up two so distinctivly different instruments like that, you rjun the risk of possibly cancelling each other out, but that does not happen anywhere on this record, and it is fortunate, since this is what really makes everything work out the best way it possibly could.

Revolutionary, inspiring, memorable and magical, among other things, S.U.S.A.R. by Indukti will stay with me forever.

Happy Listening.

Quite evil... quite evil indeed...

With contemporaries Riverside emerging into the prog scene not long before it seemed pretty clear now the Polish prog scene was going to look. Their dark and malevolent albums no doubt set some kind of bar and Indukti would have no trouble matching the standards that had been set. With their debut album, SUSAR, Indukti seems pretty bent to make sure that Polish prog-metal remains as dark and scary as possible. While this is quite removed from the Riverside style they're still but a stone's throw away when it all boils down. Granted, this album is primarily instrumental and it has a very different feel to it, but in general we're still dealing with heavy progressions, dark riffs and a generally evil ambiance.

It's quite hard to describe the music on this album, but that's one of the things that makes it so fun to listen to. The songs range from brooding instrumentals characterized by fast and heavy guitar sections backed by violin parts such as the eastern flavored opener Freder to slow and brooding song-songs which feature (appropriately enough) Riverside vocalist, Mariusz Duda, who manages to give the songs even more depth. Mariusz appears on the two part song (the longest of the bunch) Cold Inside...I, and ...And Weak II which features slower parts in the first section and mad violins and destructive riffs in the second part. Also of note is the other two parter on the album, No. 11812 starts off slowly and has a mean bass riff shrouded in chimes, the song later explodes as it comes to a blistering guitar finished, which is later followed up on with No. 11811. This one feels a bit more 'out in space' but still features some mean bass playing and even more heavy guitar riffs.

Uluru is one of the few stand-alone tracks on the album, and man does it rock. This one features that wonderful and crazy violin with that ever pressing guitar underneath and the grumbling bass gets pulled along for the ride. Heavy riffs pull into the end to top it all off. One of the biggest standouts on the album!

When it comes right down to it, if you're looking for incredibly heavy and dark music you're in the right subgenre, that's for sure. Indukti have really made a slash with their debut album and if you're wanting a sea of heavy instrumental music to wade around in, don't look any further. This one is going to have to get 4 stars, and excellent album for those in need of dark and evil music.

Very nice album. I downloaded after reading reviews here and listening to the sample mp3. I was not disappointed. The first listen was a musical feast, delightful to the senses, so many different colors to behold, woven together nicely. I would have given it 5 stars that night without reservation.

To summarize the sound, it's an almost-instrumental (Riverside's Mariusz Duda provides vocals on some of the songs, more textural for than lyric for the most part) post-metal sound that includes harp and violin to quite good effect. Heavier than Riverside (and I actually like the guitar tone and mix better here than on Riverside's albums) but sharing the sense of texture and mood.

For those who enjoy metal, this is perhaps the best metal instrumental album I know of. It's great to put on some good headphones and just immerse yourself in the soundscapes. However, the songs themselves don't distinguish from each other very much, and after repeated listenings, the album loses a little bit. There are some new things to discover, but this is not a classic prog album that takes multiple listens to even comprehend and continues to surprise for many more.

As a result, I still enjoy this album alot. I have specific tracks (Freder and Uluru) on several playlists, and recommend it without reservation. The 4 star definition (Excellent addition to any prog collection) fits it well.

Good job to Indukti, I look forward to the next one, hoping for a few surprises.

Entertaining dark, moody, and subtly threatening instrumental music from this Polish group which, although an enjoyable debut, is very much of the genre, and suffers somewhat from its redundancy.

Fans of Tool, and especially Riverside will eat SUSAR up. The instrumental compositions are a good combination of slow, creepy builds with inevitable explosions of crunchy riffs. Adamczyk's bass lays down a big, fat, tuned-down foundation (which couldn't possibly imitate Tool's Justin Chancellor any more) while the two guitar players spend their time playing with distortion and effects. Their playing is undeniably good, but gets repetitive early on in the album. We're sometimes given some acoustic or purely atmospheric playing, but for the most part the listener should expect a non-stop chug of crunch/feedback. Drumming is quite good. The standout sound, however, is Jablonska's violin, which carries the rare melody and provides much of the album's tension and desperate feeling.

In an album which is mostly redundant-- and derivative-- post-metal crunch, this violin sound is a unique voice, and is liable to be the one thing listeners find themselves enjoying most, since the other players are content to play what is essentially the same pattern for 50 minutes. The inclusion of the harp is a nice touch as well, but isn't prevalent often enough to for it to feel truly integrated. Duda's vocals are passable, but mostly useless, and only show how much more a clone of Riverside Indukti is.

For fans of this sound, SUSAR holds up nicely; its mood and energy are first-rate. Yet, its repetitiveness and formulaic approach doesn't keep pace with the leaders in the genre. Worth investigating.

Songwriting: 3 Instrumental Performances: 4 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 3

Harp and violin's rockowy metal.

INDUKTI, a sharp-edged progressive star from Poland, their sound style is not only heavy but, I think, also has an atmosphere from far east (for me in Japan, a native one). Especially please listen to the second track Cold Inside...I. Double guitars by Piotr and Maciej can hear like petals of cherry fallen here and there. Of course Ewa's whispering voice is like the sidewind against the tree. Freder is so fantastic with Anna's brilliant harp in the beginning, and the latter heavy part is absolutely exotic and Oriental... The voice's from faraway place I always feel. Another point of this band is, whatever should be said, psychedelic and squeaky violin sounds I wanna say. With a beautiful harp on the other side, INDUKTI's sound storm should be constructed perfectly on East Europe and be shot toward all over the world.

They can let us proggers know another theory of Polish progressive rock. Great work.

Indukti ? SUSAR 4 stars

A very interesting package.

This debut album feels like it's done by a bunch of high profile veterans, but this is not the case. The album can easily be described as having its heavy roots in Tool, as well as the atmosphere, but more along the lines of Riverside, in which it's vocalist also provides on two tracks. The cello gives the album a more celestial and psychedelic feels combined with some oriental drumming and some hypnotic bass lines, so in other words, this is a very good mix of instruments and brand of music. Most of the album is fairly heavy, but there are some soft tracks with ambient soundscapes. The one thing in common with all the tracks is an 'ethnic' feel when all the instruments intertwine.

This album has given birth to a new sound, which Indukti is the sole owner of.

INDUKTI are an interesting band, perhaps mis-categorised as post-rock/post-metal by some. I hear heartland prog-metal in this album, albeit with a unique amalgam of instruments (including harp and violin) leading to a most pleasant sound. Like OCEANSIZE, perhaps the closest analogue to this band, there are elements of the post-rock sound, but they do not take us into the post-rock landscape in the way, say, KAYO DOT does.

Indeed, the band's biggest flaw is also, perhaps, the reason for their mis-categorisation: they do not have any meaningful vocals. This is such a shame, as their compositions cry out for a melodic line to give them that extra dimension. 'S.U.S.A.R.' is a fine instrumental album (there are guest vocals, but they are rather thin and insignificant, dwarfed by the instrumentation) with none of the cheap tricks some metal bands use as part of their posturing persona: this is all class. Prog heaven.

'S.U.S.A.R.' consists of seven equally strong tracks, all featuring contrasts between beautiful acoustic music and crunching heavy guitar, driven along by a complex rhythm. Lovers of TOOL and OCEANSIZE ought to check the album out, but it does not scale the heights these bands reach, lacking the compositional excellence and vocal power of either. Nevertheless, this is an above average debut and well worth a listen.

There's something magical in first two minutes of Freder, these arabic like melodies. Oriental things always charmed mind of westerners. In fact, these traits return soon after tech metal introduction in said time.

That's first track, six more remain. Truth is, that this interesting flavour, not so usual melody and harmony is present through all songs (as far as I can tell). Good thing for me, that it's not just brutal assault on your ears, betting all chances on that you'll be overwhelmed by it and in your ecstasy, you'll forgive, or won't hear in this sound mess at all, big void of innovation. Yes, I'm follower of theory, that you can gain more with theory of precise sound with extreme as one of the flavours, not main ingredient. Also, ambient like sound is here. So different from their latest release and

5(-) so better. I know, it's not tech/extreme. Their second album could be, but this one mix together all things in correct rate. And again, I have to say, that melody is not a crime, when music doesn't depend solely on it.

A beautifully recorded album of powerful songs from the realms of heavier prog yet there is often an atmospheric and even sensitive feel to the music's sound--which is what keeps me interested and engaged. I attribute a lot of my interest and satisfaction to the work of the violin. There are a lot of times that I'm reminded of RIVERSIDE while listening to this album--especially when there are vocals going on. The major detractor from my overall enjoyment of this album is that every song has too much similarity in sound, pace, and style.

Album highlights: "Freder" (7:30) (8/10); "No. 11812" (7:59) (9/10); "...and weak II" (9:36) (9/10).

Indukti's debut album is a very capable piece of progressive metal which appears to take a lot of inspiration from Porcupine Tree's inspired entry into the genre on In Absentia - right down to the spacey, dreamlike vocals contributed by Mariusz Duda - and with the brilliant violin work of Ewa Jablonska adding a startling and unique dimension to their sound. Whilst prog bands of yesteryear were often fond of incorporating instrumentation beyond the typical rock group drums, guitar, bass, vocalist and optionally keyboard (as indeed are many modern post-rock groups), it always struck me as a bit of a shame that more prog metal groups didn't have any atypical instruments as permanent fixtures in their sound; here, Indukti buck that trend marvellously.