AUGUST IN THE URALS

"August in the Urals" is the debut full-length studio album by US progressive rock/jazz-rock/fusion act Deluge Grander. The album was released through the Emkog Records label in July 2006. Keyboard player/vocalist Dan Britton and drummer Patrick Gaffney formed the band after their former outfit Cerebus Effect disbanded in 2005. I don´t usually talk too much about cover artwork, but it´s interesting to note that Deluge Grander have opted to use the same detail of Thomas Cole's (1801-1848) painting "The Voyage of Life: Youth" as the cover for "August in the Urals" as the Swedish doom metal band Candlemass did on their third full-length studio album "Ancient Dreams" from 1988.

While Deluge Grander is in some ways a continuation of the progressive rock/jazz-rock/fusion style of Cerebus Effect, there are some differences. Deluge Grander for example don´t flirt with progressive metal and as a result "August in the Urals" is a less hard edged release than Cerebus Effect´s sole studio album "Acts Of Deception" (2005). The highly eclectic and everchanging nature of the music are features the two artists share though. Deluge Grander however appear a little more in sync, and their material a bit more mature.

Although the music occasionally features vocals (they are featured quite prominently on the title track and on "Abandoned Mansion Afternoon"), it´s predominantly instrumental, busy, and quite challenging in nature. The balance is pretty equal between the progressive rock leanings and the jazz-rock/fusion elements and Deluge Grander master both with seamless ease. There is indeed som high level musicianship on display here. That´s also needed when you compose tracks as long as Deluge Grander do on "August in the Urals". Just remembering tracks featuring as many different parts as the 26:57 minutes long album opener "Inaugural Bash" or the follow-up 15:52 minutes long title track is quite impressive. Playing the many different parts and understanding and delivering the right dynamics are interesting features too.

"August in the Urals" features a well sounding production job, which is both organic and sharp when it needs to be. Upon conclusion "August in the Urals" is a strong debut release from Deluge Grander. I do feel the compositions are sometimes a bit fragmented and maybe features too many different songwriting ideas, but if you´re interested in progressive rock music which changes a lot and which is performed by a cast of incredibly skilled musicians, "August in the Urals" isn´t the worst pick. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.