SKYLAKE

Skylake is a young Dutch alternative/progressive rock band who state they are influenced by artists such as Karnivool, Anathema, Tesseract and Steven Wilson. They've been active since early 2015, with Bart Laan on guitar and vocals, Charlie Feld on bass guitar, Suzan van den Engel on vocals and harp, and Arjan Laan on drums. Yes, they are unusual within the prog context by having a straight four-piece rock band set up, and it's not unusual for them to move more into melodic hard rock, although often with interesting time signatures and approach. Their live sound must be quite different to the studio, as the interplay between two guitars is an important facet, and in concert they probably come across quite a bit heavier. Even so, there are times when they are quite heavy indeed, and bring in some djent staccato attacks when the time is right.

The instrumental passages can be reasonably long within the context of the songs themselves, but there are no real lengthy songs here. The use of harp (sparingly it must be said) is also interesting, as chords are plucked to provide emphasis. On top of all that rock, there are the vocals of Suzan van den Engel, and she has a wonderful voice. She never strains, or goes very high up the register, but always has the feeling of total composure and control, and this combined with the musical support and commercial elements to the music means this is a very listenable and enjoyable album from the off. I will be intrigued to see where they go from here, as while this is never earth shattering it shows real promise and is a band I will be looking out for the in the future.

SKYLAKE is a Dutch group that began life in 2015 under the name of ARTIFACT. The album is musically inspired by bands such as Karnivool, TESSERACT, ANATHEMA and PORCUPINE TREE, although mainly with their own sound. It varies between the atmospheric style, melodic and rhythmic, and its intensity varies from acoustic sections, atmospheric and ambient quieter to heavier guitar pieces. The voice of Suzan also reminded me at times the CRANBERRIES and by the time the first MAGENTA. "In Orbit" is inspired by various musical styles, containing ambient and melodic music and more rhythmic and energetic pieces. In fact Skylake made in the alternative atmo or in the melodic, rythmic prog, but each track is unique in singular development! "The Storm" begins on a basic air as almost all other securities, a catchy rhythm somewhat lessened by the voice of Suzan. Fortunately midterm development with successive breaks purely instrumental and latent phases planing is emerging. For "Haste" archaic intro with a melodic prog metal allows to get very technical with his guitar and battery of two young children being only the synth SILHOUETTE group, perhaps something to do with it! In "Prisoner" the title is even more varied, we find the violin, station wagons hard limit with incisive guitar and a voice that reminds me that here Ma'ko of ARRAKEEN, beautiful likeness. "Smooth Skin / War Within" share on a basic little too straight, male voice hard limit denotes death a little bass to MAIDEN, the piano and acoustic part was the first part! 'Vicious' with rhythmic hard, pleasurable riffs of "donf" (in French !! ... in the text), but with a female voice too cutesy (yes I am hard, but this is the weak point), yet once it is developing after song that saves the title. "Crossroads" and the ballad of the CD, still cool with an almost crystalline break from the 3 minutes there lets go fast in a prog structure. As for "Luna" is the second time the voice is in place with a soft, languorous voice pulling the words, then the treble in fine style, instruments remaining almost at their full potential; here is a real lyrical !! pleasurable riffs of "donf" (in French !! ... in the text), but with a female voice too cutesy (yes I am hard, but this is the weak point), again is the development after singing that saves the title. "Crossroads" and the ballad of the CD, still cool with an almost crystalline break from the 3 minutes there lets go fast in a prog structure. As for "Luna" is the second time the voice is in place with a soft, languorous voice pulling the words, then the treble in fine style, instruments remaining almost at their full potential; here is a real lyrical !! pleasurable riffs of "donf" (in French !! ... in the text), but with a female voice too cutesy (yes I am hard, but this is the weak point), again is the development after singing that saves the title. "Crossroads" and the ballad of the CD, still cool with an almost crystalline break from the 3 minutes there lets go fast in a prog structure. As for "Luna" is the second time the voice is in place with a soft, languorous voice pulling the words, then the treble in fine style, instruments remaining almost at their full potential; here is a real lyrical !! "Crossroads" and the ballad of the CD, still cool with an almost crystalline break from the 3 minutes there lets go fast in a prog structure. As for "Luna" is the second time the voice is in place with a soft, languorous voice pulling the words, then the treble in fine style, instruments remaining almost at their full potential; here is a real lyrical !! "Crossroads" and the ballad of the CD, still cool with an almost crystalline break from the 3 minutes there lets go fast in a prog structure. As for "Luna" is the second time the voice is in place with a soft, languorous voice pulling the words, then the treble in fine style, instruments remaining almost at their full potential; here is a real lyrical !! Well, a little summary for once; good titles with real musical possibilities during breaks and other flights of instrumental, voice deserves to be worked into a more homogeneous album. That's all you could want in this young group that has bathed in the prog metal bands or alternative prog second generation.