The new release from Aethellis, this one seems to stretch out a bit further than the previous set did. It’s still all progressive rock, but there are a lot of variants on that general musical theme here. This is a great disc. Those who liked the first one should really like this one, perhaps more so. It would also make an excellent introduction to a killer modern progressive rock act.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Great waves of vocals start this and it carries without musical accompaniment for a time. There’s a quick burst of ELP like keyboards. Then it shifts to another vocal driven section, but this time piano accompanies. Eventually it turns to a hard rocking progressive jam. There’s certainly plenty of ELP in the mix, but it’s kind of jazzy and has hints of Deep Purple. It works through several changes and alterations and really rocks. There’s a lot of groove built into this music and it’s both very progressive rock oriented and yet a lot of fun. The organ soloing on this is quite tasty. Mid-track we get another vocal dominated section. It builds out from there into some mainstream prog melodic sounds. This section is less ELP-like, but is seriously prog oriented. It’s very satisfying and powerful. At over ten minutes in length, this is definitely epic in proportion.

As this powers out it resembles a fast paced melodic progressive rock sound with a lot of fusion and some funk in the mix. The introduction is over a minute in length and gives way to a piano solo type section. The vocals enter over the top of this basic musical concept. It grows out organically from there with female vocals and other instrumental elements added to the arrangement. Then around the three and a half minute mark it fires out to fast paced melodic progressive rock that has some semblance to Yes. A cool melodic prog jam takes it from there with hints of George Harrison to my ear.