MEMENTO VIVERE

The Germany based HAVEN OF ECHOES is a relatively new band on the prog circuit but serves more as a duo-based supergroup with seasoned veterans of the trade Paul Sadler, the guitarist and vocalist of the UK based prog metal band Spires along with ex-Frequency Drift keyboardist Andreas Hack aka Feeling of Presence. Together these two talented musicians have burst onto the scene beginning with the debut album "The Indifferent Stars" which garnered rave reviews from lovers of melodic symphonic / neo-prog extravaganzas. The duo has returned only two years with its second coming, the monumental MEMENTO VIVERE which once again includes drummer Wolfgang Ostermann and Nerissa Schwarz who offers some interesting electric harp contributions as well as delivering some extra keyboard moments.

Going for the gusto and pushing further in myriad directions in comparison to the debut, MEMENTO VIVERE nurtures four sprawling tracks into true prog splendor with all exceeding the eight minute mark and two exceeding fourteen. The opening "Non Sum - Non Curo" boldly displays a whopping 17 minutes worth of prog twists and turns that allow the band's melodic sensibilities to spring to life with a massive rotisserie of varying motifs that find soft tender melodies morphing from soft piano arpeggio dominated passages to heftier rock majesty. Brought to life with Paul Sadler's emotive vocal performances the music reminds a bit of the tender frailty of Riverside but at times sounds a bit like Andy Bell of Erasure as well! Displaying a wide range of abilities though Sadler rises to the occasion to animate this atmospheric prog to an entirely new level of excellence.

While the opener runs the gamut of synth-laden neo-prog styles to more frenetic metallic outbursts as the underpinning, "Ad Infinitum" displays a more tender crooning methodology with a winding display of cadences and melodic richness that coalesce into a near 9-minute mix of piano based melancholy. Along for the ride are rich guitar sweeps and the electric harp wizardry of Nerissa Schwarz along with a nice display of restraint and atmospheric excess. "It Walks Among Us" follows suit as the second longest track. It's at this point that Sadler's vocals remind me a bit of Einar Solberg who has fronted the prog metal / art rock band Leprous for the last two decades. Both singers display a firm control of their vocals to express subtle shades of emotive nuances that many similarly styled prog bands woefully lack. This track is also on the slinky slow mode with darkened hues of keyboard sensation and nice percussive outbursts that drop in from time to time through the mostly chilled drifting style of the track.The mid-section orchestrations are profound and powerful making this a track a true powerhouse.

"Assimilation" ends the 48 minute album run and continues the same stylistic approach nurtured in abundance throughout the album's previous three tracks. While based in the same synth-laden atmospheric cloud covers and cyclical piano processions, this one adds a bit more rock guitar to the mix. Yet once again Sadler dazzles with his passionate vocal projections that emotively decorate the tales at hand. While MEMENTO VIVERE is rather restrained in moments of guitar showboating, this track allows the chained up instrument to take a stroll every so often with a beautiful melodic solo and once again Schwarz delivers some gorgeous electric harp contributions. While not credited the sounds of violins whether real or synthesized offer nice contrapuntal elements and the moments of electronic freakery during the whispered vocal section offer a rare movement of darkness and fright to the otherwise placid procession through this highly melodic album experience.

This is the kind of prog that has to be done right for me to really want to experience repeatedly as more often than not the band doesn't have the chops to balance the atmospheric ambience with a proper instrumental accompaniment. Top that off, the vocals tend to be an afterthought and the proper role of the percussion and bass are secondary. Not so with HAVEN OF ECHOES. These guys have nailed the whole enchilada thus making MEMENTO VIVERE as vivacious as its namesake. While some may tout this a masterpiece of some sorts, in comparison to other accomplished bands the album comes off as a very close cousin to a less rock oriented Riverside or Leprous more based in neo-prog than anything heavy. While many a modern prog band sports this same style, it's rarely carried out as satisfying as HAVEN OF ECHOES displays on this second coming. A band to keep your eye on for the future and one to check out if you haven't done so already.