TERRAFORM

Terraform is the second album by Jupiter Society, a project instigated and lead by Carptree member Carl Westholm. And it pretty much continues where the first one ended, although with a few twists in the musical department.

The name of the game here as on the debut is a blend of progressive metal, space rock and symphonic prog, with an emphasis on the first of these stylistic expressions. And indeed, if someone does think Ayreon at this stage you'll have a point, there is a similarity in the musical elements used and the overall sound - although in this case Arjen Lucassen's Star One project is somewhat closer.

Jupiter Society is a much darker take on this form of space metal though. Heavy, thundering riffs that will make many think of Black Sabbath, and some of doom metal outfit Candlemass, is the main metal component here. Space-tinged electronic sounds and dramatic symphonic synths adds flavouring, and with quite a few both mellow and ambient passages added to most of the tracks. But whether thundering heavy, Wagnerian dramatic or new age-tinged ambient in expression - there's a brooding darkness to all parts of this album - much more so than on it's predecessor.

It's a very well made album too, and as with the first chapter in what will hopefully be a long series of releases, pretty close to pure brilliance but not quite up there with the instant classics yet.