USER HOSTILE

This is the debut album from Australia's own A LONELY CROWD. Without question a Heavy- Prog recording and with strong female vocals. I didn't notice this until after spending a week with this record that there are two different female singers. The original is Leah who then left after recording seven tracks and the new singer Xen who is featured on five songs. There's even a couple of guest male singers who are on three tracks in total. The music while heavy uses a fair amount of flute which I like.

"Blessing In Disguise" is a short mellow intro track with female vocals. "Barbed Haywire" is a pretty heavy instrumental but the heaviness is contrasted well with the more laid back passages with flute. "Tyranny Of Dissonance" has this heavy under-current with female vocals. I like the flute. It's intense after 3 minutes then it settles again. "Make You Scream" has to be a top three for me. It's relaxed at first then everything including the vocals turns intense before a minute. Lots of passion here but the contrasts will continue. I like the keyboards after 2 minutes and the vocal melodies that follow. "Tightrope Somnabulists" features flute and heaviness early on then it settles 2 minutes in. Vocals don't come in until after 4 1/2 minutes. An interesting track. "Dragonfly" is mellow with vocals but it kicks in before a minute. "End Without End" reminds me of Canadian singer Sam Roberts.

"Misunderestimated" sounds great with that nice heavy sound with vocals. "Mustard Brush Tango" is a different but fun instrumental with some guest clarinet. "Status Anxiety" opens with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals. The bass and drums join in then the synths roll in before 3 minutes. "Adjustify" kicks in quickly then settles back with male vocals. "Bipolar Bear" is an instrumental that begins with this carnival-like melody and it's contrasted with these heavy sections with flute. "Few And Far Between" is a top three with those reserved female vocals and laid back sound early on. A nice heavy sound then kicks in. Great track ! "De Vito" is a short vocal tune. "Glass Eyes" features atmosphere before the vocals, heaviness and flute take over. "Skyscraper" is my final top three. It opens with the sound of someone walking in a building before heaviness and male vocals take over. He's screaming now. Nice !

Without question this is a band to keep an eye on and I highly recommend "User Hostile" to anyone who is into Heavy-Prog.