NEMEZIS

Nemezis is a Polish five piece band that delivers wonderful neo-prog on her eponymous debut-CD from 2008: from mellow with twanging guitars, soaring synthesizers and warm female vocals to compelling and bombastic with varied keyboards and beautiful, often Steve Rothery-like guitarwork (many times he carried me away to Marillion's Fish era). My highlights are the moving guitar solo in Unknown Tomorrow, the exciting interplay between a church-organ sound, guitar and drums in With No Return and a spectacular synthesizer solo in Somewhere In Time

About the long final piece The End (more than 12 minutes), this one succeeds to generate the most excitement.

A dreamy intro with warm vocals, piano and soaring keyboards.

A wonderful part with intense orchestral keyboards, beautiful piano with longing vocals, sensitive guitarplay in a slow rhythm.

A mid-tempo with propulsive drums, a long and harder-edged guitar solo (like Steve Rothery at his pinnacle).

And a quite mellow conclusion with piano and again that excellent female voice.

So another interesting band from the New Polish Progressive Movement (from Riverside to Osada Vida). Highly recommended, especially to the neo-prog fans. Unfortunately no more signs from Nemezis after this promising debut CD.

My rating: 3,5 star.

Nemezis came together in 1996, and although they did have some local success, they never completed their debut album and broke up. After recording an album with Mindfields, guitarist Marcin Kruczek felt that it was time that the songs written by Nemezis finally saw the light of day, so he put together a brand-new band to do just that, none of whom had played in the original line-up. Krzysztof Lepiarczyk (Loonypark) provided keyboards, and the music is credited to him, Marcin and original bassist Grzegorz Wojtasiński, who wasn't involved this time around. The line-up was completed with Karolina Strużycka (vocals, who also provided all the English lyrics), Piotr Lipka (bass), Waldek Kowalski (drums, percussion) while Metus provided guest male vocals on one song.

This certainly doesn't sound like a project, but rather a well-rounded band who have been playing together for years. Karolina is a beautiful singer, with just a faint hint of accent that provides an edge to her voice, enhancing and not detracting. However, in many ways this is a vehicle for Marcin more than anybody else, with everyone else playing a backing role. On some songs, he does provide chords, but for the most part he is providing some plaintive soloing that is either the main focal point of the passage, or as a direct counterpoint to the vocals. Krzysztof is well-known as a keyboard player, yet here his role is to provide a melodic backdrop for Marcin to play against. The result is a neo-prog album that may have hints of Camel, Jadis and Pendragon among others, but is quite different to most of what was in the scene.

This 2008 album was sadly the only release from Nemezis, although Marcin and Krzysztof did play together on the solo album by Milennium singer Lukasz Gall. Produced by Milennium keyboard player Ryszard Kramarski, Nemezis released an album that is a highly regarded part of Poland's impressive progressive rock scene.

Poland keeps providing new prog acts especially in the new era , confirming their powerhouse status with stellar groups like Riverside, Satellite, Believe, Lizard, Quidam, Abraxas, Millenium, Albion and After (the latter sadly not yet on PA). Nemezis is another worthy addition to the prog team, a scintillating debut loaded with prime melodic jewels that feature veteran guitarist Marcin Kruczek. His fluid style has the classic touch a la Latimer/Hackett/Gilmour but with his own distinctive, almost edgier flair. The band members all apply themselves with judicious talent, great rhythm team (a common trait with Polish Prog) and seem to venerate the melancholic blues-ridden musical expanses that crave to propel wayward emotions to the forefront. This stunning debut institutes an immediate awesome display with the gut-wrenching opener "Without a Reason", full of spiraling guitar pyrotechnics and solid female and accentless vocals from Karolina Struzyczka , while keysman Krzysztof Lieparski daubs walls of synthesized coloring. "Unknown Tomorrow" keeps the sorrowful tempo aglow, Kruczek's axe slithering with genuine bravado, twisting agonizingly in the sonic gale as the heady vocals deliver a very "rock" and passionate message. A whooshing synth solo adds to the delight. Not exactly Gentle Giant mind you but Polish Prog has always been about exemplary instrumental playing and sticking to what the Poles do best = sad, mournful and ultimately highly satisfying progressive that some wish to call "neo". The comparisons are a lot closer to a more aggressive Floyd or Camel than any Genesis reference (of which there is frankly none) but they have a distinctive "bluesy" sound that suits them well. "With No Return" is another heartrending affair, replete of some past poignancy and pain, something that most music fans can certainly relate to. It's not about Tolkien, Galahad or the Gates of Delerium but about the miserable weakness of lost love, a subject that has inspired mankind diligently since the Garden of Eden. Fine depressing tune! "Somewhere In Time" is where the shift begins toward a perhaps brighter outlook (historically, the Poles never had it easy!), with bright arrangements that seek out sunnier dispositions, twanging guitars slashes and gently breezy vocals that is lush with contemplation, even tossing in a little oblique dissonance just for fun. When the solo suddenly uncoils, it's a classic ride up and down the fret board, groaning, sobbing, imploring, beseeching and yes, even howling, as only that blessed instrument can. Again,very nicely done. "A Moment in Life" is a shorter piece that is perhaps the most accessible (radio-friendly) track here, with a lustily obsessive vocal delivery that has almost Roxy-esque tendencies with a country/blues guitar display that is actually very refreshing. This is closer to classic rock as it gets and when the title track kicks in, the mood shifts back to dense progressive a la Polonaise, the guitar imitating the tragic violin ( a Mirek Gil specialty) and the background keys splashing playfully. The fast paced female vocals are abetted by some guest deep male voice (a la Yello) that adds another dimension altogether, the biting axe frolicking in derision . Again, this comes across as quite daring and original. And how do they end this sucker? A whopping 12 minute opus, judiciously entitled "Then End" that manages to encompass what Nemezis is all about. Polish prog bands seem to encourage the female vocalists (see Albion, early Quidam and now Nemezis) and give them the platform to go well beyond the boring Annie Haslam comparisons and forge their own style. I for one, intend fully to support that kind of initiative, as the female voice is aptly suited to the complexities of progressive, even in its simplest sub-genre. Karolina's deeply felt expression is truly memorable, with tacit maintenance from the male band mates, a showcase for a new talent to shine. Perfect, far from it but certainly a superbly solid album full of romantic material with some first-rate instrumental soloing. The next one just might be a killer. Thank you, windhawk ! 4 arch-rivals