TALES OF A FUTURE PAST

Mekong Delta's Tales of a Future Past is the second record I've listened to this year by a veteran German prog metal group that is still somehow pushing out high quality music; the other being Ivanhoe's Blood and Gold. While historically considered a progressive thrash metal band, the music on this release puts a power metal polish on the riffing, vocals, and orchestral backing tracks.

The music on the record fosters of strong sense of imminent danger that is manifesting just out of sight, though never quite materializing. This seems to fit quite nicely with the lyrical concept of the record about the discovery of a long-lost civilization and the warnings its demise has for the present day.

While the tracks up until "Hollow Men" are likely to be some of the strongest metal you will hear this year, I feel the quality tapers off from "Landscape 3" and onward. Tales of a Future Past is still a great record that is totally worth your time.