FIVE MAN ARMY

This EP is the first effort of a band which is difficult to appraise. It's somewhat mysterious because almost nothing is known about them - the official website doesn't work actually and the myspace page is not even overflowing with usable informations. No activity since 2006 is to notice - what a pitty! Song titles are referring to astronomical and sci-fi themes and the Zentradi are 'known' as an imaginary giant humanoid race by the way. And yes - it's not really wonderous after knowing that - the band is using several psych/space ingredients for their special cocktail.

This album can be considered as one suite starting off with a nice ambient/spacey intro and for the first time you're forced to question that ALPHA ZENTRADI is considered as a progressive heavy rock band. But immediately The Arrival follows with the message 'You cant live wrong and die right' - violent - a very energetic track where singer Kyle gives all. No, not thrash - the song is based on a punching bass, cracking guitars with a grungy main melody. Together with the heavy riffing World War You - following the footsteps of Tool - this is confirming the prog metal category by all means.

Here Is Where We Are shows singer Kyle with a quite mellow voice besides spacey guitars and more alternative/grunge leanings. Stella[r] is a high-speed rocking thing which makes you dizzy - something for the headbanging branch, especially dedicated to the people in front of the stage during the live gigs. Armistice shows excellent twin guitar work in the second half - psychedelic moments included once more. Sonnenaufgang - oh a german title and they are trying to make it multi-lingual furthermore - a funky bass and plaintive guitar attracts attention - only two and a half minutes long but hard to describe - a highlight! Gute Nacht confuses or enchants (it depends) the listener with another blend of heavy rock and psychedelic. Probably recorded under influence of some mind-expanding substances. Singer Kyle wishes 'Auf Wiedersehen' several times and they carried out this promise with a new album as we know.

ALPHA ZENTRADI succeedes a fresh and energetic effort, twin guitar driven, rough and unpolished. For some just the latter makes it extra attractive, for others who like it more sophisticated: another album followed only one year later - 3.5 stars really.