S.U.S.A.R.

This effort is impressive, to say the least. When I first heard this record I cursed all those who should have recommended it to me earlier! Indukti is a Polish prog metal band with a twist: excellent compositions that are simultaneously technical and ethereal. As an added bonus, they have a violin, which adds a surprising amount of fine texture to the already thick compositions.

The album starts with the instrumental rocker 'Freder', a track that establishes the band's technical prowess as well as their ear for structure. 'Cold Inside' introduces the guest vocalist from Riverside. His vocals are good overall, but they aren't what they could be. Honestly I would favor them more if they were less plentiful and less present in the mix. The melody is a nice addition, but I think the violin already provides plenty of it. 'No. 11812' is another brilliant instrumental that flows through several complex changes. The next track is another one I feel I would like better without vocals. The singer's voice reminds me too much of a Creed-era alt rock band on this one. 'Uluru' is yet another fine instrumental piece featuring some really incredible work from all the instrumentalists, particularly the violin and bass. Some of the most interesting and complicated violin work I have ever heard is contained in the track 'No. 11811' (though I don't pretend to be any sort of expert on violin music). The final track is also excellent.

This is a fantastic debut from this band, who should appeal to all fans of prog metal, particularly Tool fans, as well as fans of psychedelic/space rock. The one major flaw with this album in my opinion is the inclusion of any vocalist. Brilliant instrumental bands should realize what they've got and not ruin it with a mediocre singer or uninspired lyrics. This album is not absolutely essential, but is quite excellent, and I look forward to hearing more from this band!