UNMASTERED

Abigail's Ghost has been around for some time now. Their debut "Selling Insincerity" in 2007 was a pleasant surprise full of Porcupine Tree, A Perfect Circle, and maybe even some Genesis. Honestly, that album is still in my regular rotation. Their follow-up "D_letion" was a solid album, too. So, here they are once again, this time with an EP called "Unmastered". This EP is supposed to be taste of the full album that will come later this year or next. Before I start in detail, I must say that this EP contains some of their best work.

"Unmastered" is made up of five songs that are sonically diverse and beautifully composed. The band brings it in the creative department, featuring songs that range from their classic sound to more melodic and ethereal tracks. They still feature the amazing guitar work of Joshua Theriot and Randy Leboeuf, the intense keys of Brett Guillory, and the dynamic bass of Kenneth Wilson. I also found that the drums from John Rodrigue are extremely precise and present a clarity that I don't recall from their earlier albums. Lastly, Theriot also provides the wonderful vocals, and I don't recall him ever sounding more in the vein of Maynard of Tool/APC. My wife actually thought I was listening to a new APC song. This is not a bad thing in the least.

If the variety presented on this EP is any indication for future things, we are in for a treat. From the enthusiastic "Sliver" to the very melodic "Bloodlust" to the island/folk music combination of "King of All", the band shows their chops and their whimsy. I particularly love "Bloodlust" with its intense guitar solo and instrumental that ranks up near the top of the list this year, and I also love "King of All", a song that dabbles in some genres that aren't normally involved with progressive rock. In all of this, I am very impressed, as the quality and the inspiration of the melodies is clear and at the forefront.

If you remember Abigail's Ghost or simply love progressive rock, do yourself a favor and pick up this EP. Not only will you help them finance their next album, but it will also be an earworm for you for some time.