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Burning Star Records
is making its debut in the worldwide
metal market by releasing the debut
album of this Hungarian Progressive
Metal act, called Everwood. Most of
the times, I'm really cautious when
I have to deal with debut albums and
I admit that I often get carried away
by my instinct and the first impression
it creates, by its cover, package
and most of all by its music. You
know I actually believe the first
spin is the crucial one, although
I acknowledge that I've deeply misjudged
many albums in the past and deprived
myself of the opportunity to enjoy
their grandiose and intelligent melodies
right from the start. (I won't give
you an example though, since I'd like
to preserve my credibility :-)).
Anyway, the point
is that I continue to trust my instinct
and this time it tells me that Everwood
may be the future of progressive metal
or at least a fresh approach. First
of all the mind-intriguing cover,
designed by Gyula Havancsak, is exceptional
and helps in creating a first good
impression, which as I foretold, affects
my instinct and so my final judgement.
Same goes for the excellent production
and this is a big surprise. I suppose
the band and the label, both of them
newcomers, must be on a tight budget,
at least for the start, but this doesn't
show at all. On the contrary, "Mind
Games" has nothing to be jealous
of the one's that are delivered by
big bands or big labels. Mission accomplished
on these two influential aspects.
The question now
is: Can we say the same about their
music? Well, as far as my opinion
counts, definitely yes. Everwood is
a progressive metal band with a more
or less spanking new approach and
ideas. I'm not saying they are offering
something unique or innovative or
so. Of course you will trace some
already known elements and influences
from the "Goliaths" of the
genre, but there're well hidden behind
their personal identity and musical
profile. There're two main characteristics
that distinguish this album from the
others. First, and major one, is that
their music is mostly based on the
rhythmical and leading harmonic keyboard
parts, rather than complex guitar
solos and unneeded technical rhythm
changes. In fact, and this is their
second characteristic, the guitars
are tuned low and have a more rhythm-supporting
role, rather than a leading one. I'm
not even sure if I've heard more than
3-4 guitar solos throughout these
66 minutes of listening. Oh…
there's one, on the fantastic 8-minutes
long "Jeanne D'Arc (Never Surrender)",
one of my favorites together with
"The Past is alive" and
the instrumental "Pagan",
with it's "Karate-kid" oriental
part somewhere in the middle. The
rhythm section is doing pretty good
and the vocals are astonishingly good.
I'm not pretty sure
if you get the point. You have to
hear it to see what I mean. Believe
me, "Mind Games" has a distinctive
keyboard-based logic and feeling.
One of the most pleasant surprises
this year and a glimmer of hope for
this suffering and saturated by clones
genre. Give it a try it's, beyond
doubt, worthy of your time and money.
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