REFLECTIONS IN THE HOURGLASS

Swedish band Soniq Circus is little known prog act, but they released so far 2 albums their second one from 2011 named Reflections in the hourglass being the best from the two, but aswell the debut is pretty much more then ok. What Soniq Circus delivering here is a solid heavy prog album with good doses of neo prog and symphonic prog touches but all melted with prog metal accents, it sounding like a metalized neo prog in the end. So, what was fun to listen and are damn catchy are the keybords arrangements, there are rich momnts of this instrument and in combination with guitars the result is excellent. There are plenty of bombastic passages, intelligent arrangements and a pleasent voice from start to finish. The rhythm section gives the music a metal vibe and the keyboards give the music that symphonic - neo-prog touch something like Spock's Beard meeting dutch prog band Splinter, the old and new in prog is well combined on every tune. Pieces like Formula or By The Heartshaped Lake with lots of tempo changes, melodic lines, nice vocal parts, a truly inspired moments. Aswell the rest of the pieces are in same manner, all is done with good taste and intresting arrangements. I really do not know why Soniq Circus is so unknow in prog circles, what they offer here is more then good release, towards excellent in parts. To me a nice listen and for that reson 4 stars for sure.