So the guys are now back with the difficult second album, and I have to say that I think they’ve nailed it pretty well. Although PA have them listed as Heavy Prog, there is a lot on this album that would find them more happily suited to Crossover, with a very strong sense of melody. Whereas the first album impressed due to the complex heaviness of much of the music, on this one I have found that it is actually the ‘simpler’ songs that hit home. This feels very much like an album of restraint, where the band have taken their time to craft something that builds on the first and takes it in a slightly different direction, without ever straying too far from the path they set out in the debut. There are times when they are reminiscent of Vangough, or possibly Pain of Salvation, but with a more melodic almost AOR feel to the vocals. The guitars are kept (mostly) under control on this song, but the bass is allowed to run riot with some incredibly complex runs.
The piano sound is just superb, and that combined with strong harmony or double-tracked vocals and wonderfully beguiling atmospherics and hooks makes this a delight. “Breathe” is a full on duet with Elise Walker guesting, and the gentle percussion and rhythmic accompaniment allows the listener to drift away on a sea of vocals that have a wonderful pop feel, without every straying too much into that area.
In many ways this feels like a very mature album, by a band who really know what they want to achieve. The result is something that is very easy to listen to and enjoy on first hearing, and the more it is played then the more the listener discovers.
