STOLEN THOUGHTS

RETROSPECTIVE are a six piece band out of Poland, who have been releasing music since 2007 with that 35 minute EP called "Spectrum Of The Green Morning". "Stolen Thoughts" is from 2008, and is their first full studio album clocking in at under 47 minutes. I look at those two recordings as companion discs, with similar album art as well. The music is similar to RIVERSIDE as they touch on Prog Metal, but often this feels like Heavy Prog just like RIVERSIDE does to my ears. I was really glad to see they released their fifth studio album in 2022, meaning they are still current at least.

This is such an entertaining album and that all starts with the singer Jakub Roszak. I was so surprised to hear those Eddie Vedder-like vocals. I actually think I yelled something out like "Whaaat?" the first time I heard them. He has a deeper voice than Eddie and he certainly doesn't always sound like Vedder as he mixes it up well. This is a concept album about how children eventually lose that innocence and wonder as they grow into adults. The imagination seems to suffer as well. Sad but true. "Stolen Thoughts" is an interesting title for this process. Check out Jesus' words in Matthew 13:19 on stolen thoughts.

We get eight tracks here with "It's Time To Grow Up" the sixth song being the longest at 9 1/2 minutes. It comes across as a celebration of sorts starting with the tribal drumming. Catchy stuff and how much does Jakub sound like Eddie at 2 1/2 minutes. A cool tune with repeated themes and great contrasts of sound. I really like "Stupid Joke" that short second song with the fragile vocals and emotion. Melancholy. The opener "Defend Your Identity" starts off slow and atmospheric before we get a change before 3 minutes as it turns rhythmic. A nice heavy sound a minute later. RIVERSIDE comes to mind with "Sitting In The Red Train". Love the opening bass and determined sound. Check out the vocalist over the last 2 1/2 minutes. He is something!

He reminds me of the singer from MURKY RED with that husky voice on the next track called "Yesterday's Dream", but quickly turns Vedder on us as we get plenty of depth and atmosphere. Some intensity later. "Memories" is such a cool piece with the thunder throughout and reserved vocals. A storm of life. "Snoone" is interesting and mysterious. Spacey with spoken words to a catchy guitar led section. The closer "Asleep" is the second longest song at 8 1/2 minutes. Uptempo and catchy with some killer drumming. More Eddie too.

I'll let you know about their debut EP soon, as I've had it on "repeat" since I moved on from this one.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3158494)
• Buy RETROSPECTIVE music online with PA partners
• Show all RETROSPECTIVE MP3/Stream
• Go to RETROSPECTIVE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Stolen Thoughts page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for RETROSPECTIVE related discussions