NO TRESPASSING

Classical-trained keyboardisty/pianist Andrew Roussak was born in 1968 in Ufa, Russia, and after taking piano lessons and becoming an arranger at the local studio Nerve, he relocated in Germany in 2001.He had been a member of Heavy/Power Metal Stormwitch , before focusing on offering his personal-writen material taped on an album, which was meant to be the 2006 release ''No trespassing'' on MALS Records with the help among others by Stormwitch'es guitarist and bassist Oliver Weislogel and Jürgen Wannenwetsch respectively.

Here Roussak moves away from from his metal-driven familiar style to offer a classic-styled Symphonic Rock album, filled with Classical interludes, piano workouts and tremendous synth solos.Even more importantly the delivery of the album closes the likes of a tight full-time band than an egocentric composer, so the sound of this work is nicely balanced.The tracks are split between instrumental offerings and catchy sung material with an accesible edge, yet always filled with demanding instrumental parts.Roussak's education is evident throughout, from the lovely piano passages to the bombastic synth flashes and the groovy organs, but even when his keyboards remain in the background, they still can create a grandiose atmosphere.Some heavier tracks with powerful guitar breaks have a strong late-90's DREAM THEATER vibe, but the majority of the album is keyboard-based Symphonic Rock close to BLEZQI ZATSAZ, TEMPUS FUGIT, JAIME ROSAS or TESIS ARSIS.The only serious flaws of the album are maybe the voice of singer Hendrik Plachtzik, a decent one but far from suitable to the particular style, and the uninteresting jazzy/soul approaches on a couple of tracks, totally unrelated to the bombastic sound of the rest of the release.

Anyone into serious keyboard-driven Progressive Rock, far from egoistic performances, as well as lovers of Symphonic Rock should be the first to chase for this nice effort.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.