ALTONA

Altona is prog metal band from Turkey and they are around this scene for more than 10 years while releasing only a single studio album so far in 2007 selftitled. OK , the music is like I' m combining Metallica or Testament in place for roughness, even some Bay Area musical type is here combine with less elements of prog metal maybe some Dream Theater chops (Train of thought era), they are more a power/thrash metal band with some prog metal leanings here and there. They incorporate in their sound some oriental elements from their country who gives a more divers sound similar with Amaseffer. They are less complex than a usual prog metal band, they don't have key solo passages to give a little more great atmosphere, they sound rough like concrete and unpolished. Ok the album doesn't sound bad but nothing realy exciting either. If I want old schoold power metal or thrash then I will listen to Testament, Sanctuary, Metal Church , and for sure not them. I'm not puting down their work, but with such an album is very hard to make some noise in prog metal world.2.5

Turkey on the rocks... Altona is a turkish metal band, who have been around for quite a while. This is their first official album since the band was founded in 1996 (not counting a self released Thrash EP from 1999). Listening to this album, it is clear that the musicians know what they are doing, the rhythm section lays down a layer of low on top of which guitaris Aytac Dasedemir does his tricks. All in all, everything is there - good guitar riffs, driving bass work (Onur Burgaz knows what to do with 6 strings of the thick kind), double bass drumming. Technically, it's all there, and the long instrumental parts and solo's are certainly worth checking out. I enjoy the instrumental parts most - partly because of good musicianship, partly because I have some difficulties with Vadang Makelatia's voice. That's a matter of taste, likely - the voice reminds me a bit of the too thin vocals in the work of 80's metal band Easily the best track on the album is Field of Hope, which is the least straightforward metal track on the album, and which features acoustic guitar and (from what I hear) probably also a native turkish string instrument. Eternal Depth is of the same variation, while Autumn Song shows that the band has a somewhat mellower side as well.

All in all, a good listen for prog metal fans. Not the most exceptional (read original) album of the past 10 years in the genre, but certainly also far from worst. The vocals, I take for granted, others may enjoy them more.

It appears that Altona have been around as an entity for at least a decade, previously having released a 4 track thrash EP, 'Alarm Of The End', back in 1999. Having metamorphosed into a progressive metal band however, this Turkish 5 piece have released their debut 'album', which at just over 30 minutes, is little more than another, topped and tailed four track concept EP about the breakdown & 'death' of a relationship. Having been self released on their 'Atlantis Music' label, this sadly suffers from stilted, at times unintelligible lyrics in English and slightly inferior production quality as a consequence.

Musically, they are very much a generic, traditional progressive metal band in terms of the musical arrangements, with the inevitable influences of DT and Fates Warning, fused with a slight 'middle eastern' influence, in the mould of Orphaned Land. That said, the music isn't fractionally as original as either OL or Amaseffer, and consequently not in the same league. While the musicians are certainly proficient, their material, mostly written by guitarist Aytac Dasdemir, is nothing more than adequate, workmanlike and formulaic, and I can't help feeling that they are hampered my the rather limited vocal range of singer Vahdang Makaletia.

No-one likes to pour water on the enthusiasm of a new band however, and so I would suggest that 'Field Of Hope' (presently available on their MySpace page) is the strongest, perhaps most varied track on the album, and I will look forward to checking out future releases, as the band hone their sound.