ONE IN A MILLION

The fourth album by German prog metallers Poverty's No Crime shows them in fine form. The summer sees them on the road with Spock's Beard, Threshold, Pain Of Salvation, Symphony X, Flower Kings and Devin Townsend so they are certainly being kept busy. But while the press release states how much heavier the band have become, it is an effect that is glossed over just a little too much in the production. The impression is that here is a band that can really play, and has some great ideas, but will be totally different in the concert arena where the sound will be much more raw.

On the plus side, there is a great version of Rush's "Distant Early Warning", another band that also suffered at times from too much fiddling in the studio (it is easily one of the best Rush covers/tributes I have ever heard). I did enjoy the album but will probably be turning to label- mates Threshold for this type of music.

Originally appeared in Feedback 63, July 01