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Thieves' Kitchen - Head CD (album) cover

HEAD

Thieves' Kitchen

 

Eclectic Prog

3.23 | 49 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
2 stars The first notes of this album are with no doubt related with ''Dance On A Volcano'' from the ones you know about, I guess (shame on you if you don't).

I am quite astonished to see this band in the Eclectic genre. This debut album holds all the ingredients of a neo-prog music related effort. But this is pretty much in line with the fact that one of their member was playing with Grey Lady Down (GLD for later references). One of my fave neo-prog band BTW.

Most of the clichés of the genre are held in the opening epic. As earlier said, the ''Genesis'' influences are not alien and at mid time, the guitar sounds from the master Howe are added to the pudding. Some Banks synths are obviously not forgotten either of course. This being said ''Mute'' is not too bad a track.

I am quite confused when I can read that this band could be compared to ELP, VDGG, Kansas, Crimson and Yes. No more, no less. To me, they just sound as one out of many neo-prog bands. No less, no more.

The music displayed might be a little more structured like during the intro of ''Time'', but gosh! The beat turns quickly into the heavy notes and is quite hard to bear after a couple of minutes. Some sort of Sabbath with keyboards that can be heard. Fortunately, the second half of the song is much more elegant and symphonic.

The music turns out more difficult to bear while the long and insipid ''Return Of The Ultragravy'' is being played. Weak to no melody, attempts to complexity, but with little success. In all, a pretty weak track to my standards. This has already been heard a hundred times.

Most of the tracks are on the long edge, but this doesn't mean that they are all splendid. At the end of the day, the music that is offered here is quite average and boring. It is not ''Integrity'' that could change my mind. Press next is the best option to be honest.

If you would add that I am not thrilled at all with the vocals from Simon Boys, I guess that you understand my rating. Two stars for this average music. The long closing number (almost twenty minutes) is definitely not going to raise the level, unfortunately.even if a good guitar break is the highlight.

This should have been cut to a shorter story. Two stars.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 |

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