ARAMED FORCES OF SIMANTIPAK

At the dawn of the millenium came in life this bunch of young friends and musicians from Vantaa, Finland, initially producing rock adaptions of Classical pieces.A mini-album under the title ''Aramsome Sums'' with five original tracks and two Classical reworkings was Khatsaturjan's first studio attempt in 2002.From 2004 and on the Finnish quartet of Jaakko Koikkalainen, Atte Kurri, Ilkka Piispala and Ilkka Saarikivi started working on their first full-length release, abandoning the Classical adaptions and focusing on original compositions.The band was eventually picked up by Musea Records and their debut ''Aramed Forces of Simantipak'' saw the light in June 2006.

Borrowing elements from the Classic Prog era and using the perfection of today's techniques, Khatsaturjan came up with a harmonic, melodious and demanding album with strong YES, GENESIS and GENTLE GIANT influences, reminding a lot of SPOCK'S BEARD and BRIGHTEYE BRISON.This is an album closer to the likes of the vintage Progressive Rock fan (though it sounds nothing close to Retro Prog) than the lover of heavier modern releases.The musicianship is strongly based on careful vocal harmonies, piano interludes and paces, atmospheric synths, elegant guitars and a solid rhythm section with constant changes between light interplays, heavy vocal contents and some easy-going tunes.And there is also a fair dose of vintage keyboards used like the harpsichord, church organ and Hammond organ, played with a tendency towards the fields of Classical Music.The compositions are definitely well-crafted with even some string sections added for good measure, balanced between atmospheric and more technical themes, and having a very strong symphonic mood throughout.

The final taste of this listening is positive but at the end there is a feeling that Khatsaturjan did not add anything new to a scene already stuffed with groups trying to capture this magical 70's feeling.Yet their music is damn good to just pass by and ''Aramed Forces of Simantipak'' will fill plenty of your time with decent old-school Progressive/Symphonic Rock.Recommended.