CORVUS STONE

Blues Based Prog and More Once in a while a recently added artist sends me a PM asking to please write about their album, the first thing I tell them is that this is risky, because I don't have problem in giving 5 stars if a band deserves this rating, but neither my hands shake to rate an album with one star if I believe it doesn't deserve more, so before accepting the MP3 files that the guys from CORVUS STONE asked me to review, did a bit of research, and even when not a fan of most Crossover (I like my coffee strong and my Prog elaborate), read very positive reviews, and sent a PM to the guys.}

This is a decision I don't regret, because I enjoyed their eponymous debut from start to end, the music band. Don't expect the particularly complex music but they surely know how to rock, including references from different genres, including Psychedelia classic Rock, Blues, Symphonic and even some ethnic touches from different regions, all blended with great taste and skills in a Prog package.

I won't make a song by song review as I normally do, because Corvus Stone has 21 tracks and it would take me hours and would be so long that would bore most readers, but of course will mention my favorite moments.

The album is opened by the enjoyable The Curtain Rises, a weird introduction in the vein of Pyramids by ALAN PARSON'S PROJECT, with a Greek touch, which I liked specially for the acoustic guitar at the beginning and an instrument that sounded almost as a bazouki.

The combination of piano and guitar in the vein of Erick Clapton of October Sad Song creating a nice fusion of Blues with folksy bits caught my attention, really an impressive track, they use aggressive distorted guitar applied over rhythmic and melodic music, until now, I like what I listen.

Another favorite of mine is the elaborate Ice King in which the guys of CORVUS STONE blend carefully and with great taste a mysterious atmosphere with some Spanish acoustic influences, nice fusion of sounds and genres.

I paid special attention to Moron Season because of the peculiar name, but was immediately trapped by the frantic music with an almost Psychedelic Hammond, laughed a lot with the DEEP PURPLE reference, when they played part of the famous Smoke in the Water intro.

Well, no review of this album would be complete without mentioning the wonderful albeit short Intermission which surprises with some Indo/Raga elements, and of course "La Piece de Resistance"?The 11:06 minutes epic Cinema, a track that has everything an exigent listener would ask for, from the amazing guitar work to the subtle drumming and dreamy keyboards, some sort of Blues oriented Space meets Psychedelia, really extraordinaire.

I could go for hours talking about the other tracks, but I believe that what I wrote is enough to have a good idea of the music, because that fusion of styles and genres is preeminent all along the album, some harder, others oneiric With Space Rock references (Pay special attention to Ice King (Instrumental), and a couple full of frantic Psychedelia elements like the breathtaking After Solstice, but each and every one solid and entertaining.

People often critique reviewers who rate a record depending on how Progressive it is, well, this time they will have no complains, Corvus Stone is not a particularly Prog release, as a fact is a blend between Heavy Prog and Prog Related, but the important issue is the quality and this album has plenty. Enjoyed it from start to end and in my opinion deserves no less than 4 solid stars.