DRUCKFARBEN

Druckfarben were born in mid-00's, as drummer Troy Feener participated in Classic Albums Live, a collective playing live classic albums of Rock Music.All future members of the band were invited to join, only bassist Peter Murray was left out, as he was working as a producer at the time, but he still attented a show at the Phoenix Concert Theater in Toronto in 2007.All members of the future band were sharing a common taste for Prog Rock and thus Druckfarben became reality in 2008 with Troy Feener on drums, Peter Murray on bass, Phil Naro on lead vocals, Ed Bernard on guitar, violin and mandolin and William Hare on keyboards.The band was named after the tape on some black barrels Feener and Bernard discovered back in mid-80's, while students.Starting as a cover band of prog classics but soon switching to writing original music, Druckfarben made their debut in 2011 with an indendent self-titled release.

Inspired by the likes of YES and KANSAS, Druckfarben produced an album along the lines of Classic Prog Rock, albeit much more modern and heavier.The music relies heavily on the complex, jazzy chord progressions of Ed Bernard, the powerful Hammond organ and the quirky piano lines of William Hare and the raw vocals of Phil Naro, creating a quite original sound, which starts from Symphonic Rock and passes through Heavy Rock and Fusion at moments.They end up to be listed in the same catalogue like TRANSATLANTIC, CRYPTIC VISION, THE GIFT and SPOCK'S BEARD, their music is a mixture of odd harmonies, lyrical moments, sudden breaks, epic intros and outros and complex interplays.Guitar work is phenomenal to say the least, lots of great moves, jazzy fanfares and melodic solos, while the album is also noted for the addition of Mellotron and the updated synthesizers.The whole result is a set of dramatic and dynamic compositions with STEVE HOWE and ALLAN HOLDSWORTH meeting on stage with KEITH EMERSON, RICK WAKEMAN, KERRY LIVGREN and DAVE GREENSLADE!The choruses are quite accessible and the songs are rather short, no epics here, but the music is always intricate and adventurous and plenty of room for instrumental majesty and impressive mood changes.

Canadian-based Prog Rock, which comes as a heavier version of YES and KANSAS.Twists and turns, emphatic arrangements and epic vocals in a sweet mixture of old and new stylings.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.