EXTROVERT

Although it is really professionally played and good sounding, for me one star is too much. Especially when I know what the band is capable of. Two stars just because it's not trash, musically.

Guess not ;-) .This is instrumental side-project of EXTROVERT's musicians, originally released under the name AGARTA. Very good half-metal, half-fusion tracks, filled with various shifting moods and good melodic feeling. Pretty rare item now, but if you find it, you won't regret! The title track and "The Autumn Garden" with flute are probably highlights there, but other tracls deserve to be mentioned as well...Excellent addition to any Prog Collector's collection, though EXTROVERT's album is better anyway ;-)

Released under the BIG TROUBLE name back in 1999, "Four Elements" is a good and enjoyable Hard/Heavy-Rock edging Prog sometimes. Some of pieces were lately rearranged for EXTROVERT's release (as long as I heard).I gave it 3 stars mainly due to its drive - very good songs,they ROCK!!! Professionalism of the band can be easily seen - no wonder they play Prog now. Not recommended, just my personal passion ;-)

The best Russian Prog-Metal band have strong influences from DREAM THEATER's SFAM and Train of Thought.But also you can hear a bit of Scandinavian Prog in organ passages in "At the Gates", a traditional "bard" intonations in "Updoors" (awesome ballad with great "heavy" midpart) and even death-metal-like riffs in some instrumental parts.Maybe,that album has nothing too much experimental, but the main thing EXTROVERT has is SENSE OF MELODY.You can easily "hum" every song right after the first listening - including their complex signatures and rhythm/tempo changes!!! "The Cage" is my favourite here - great refrain,very memorable,it makes you sing along every time you hear it!!! "The Fight" and "I'll get back" have so many parts, instrumental and vocal,but you'll never get a feeling that epics are overloaded with music.Only closer to the album's end you may get bored A BIT, but it's a matter of taste.Also it may seem that there's too much lyrics - Vladimir is a great singer (I wonder how their new one sounds like), but this amount of lyrics not always allows him to show his voice.BTW, the lyrics are very poetical and philosophical - not every Prog band has something related!

Highly recommended for those who are to discover Russian prog and forall Prog Metal devotees - this release won't disappoint you,it has everything you want from PROGRESSIVE METAL!!!