The Spanish act Psychic Equalizer are completely new to me I'll have to confess. The band has already released a lot of albums before but Prologue To Insurrection is my first musical encounter with this excellent band. The band was founded by pianist/ keyboardist and composer Hugo Selles. The band presents itself on this new album with a new line up. Featuring long time guitarist Carlos Barragán and drummer Sergio Azcona. But also the impressive new female singer Saray Riaño. The members classical training and professional experience in playing a myriad of genres results in an original and exciting sound combining virtuosity, harmonic richness and boldly creative arrangements which you can hear on this excellent new album. The tracks are distinguished by their rich arrangements, which blend progressive rock, sometimes metal, jazz, ambient, and even classical music without juxtaposing them. On this album every tension, every silence, every surge is meticulously measured, with a clear desire to let the emotion linger. To let you know what goes on each track I will go deeper into them with you. Centuries is the first single taken from the album. It opens the album and is an up tempo tune with dark riffs and barely whispered vocals that become loud and powerful. You could say the song sounds in general as a mix between Dream Theater and Nightwish. Leaders is next and is again an up tempo composition with heavy parts in the style of Dream Theater. The song is a real masterclass of how to use Classical and Gothic vocal parts in combination of progmetal. Maybe you could say Epica meets Dream Theater. Tremors is the next piece of music and is the shortest track on the entire album. Here we have excellent piano arpeggios in combination with heavy guitar riffs next to Classical soprano vocals in combination with death grunts. It all happens in 3 minutes time. Life Will Never Shine On Me is next and is the first track on which the pace slowdowns. It is a rather mellow piece of music mainly performed on the piano and acoustic guitar. Later on, the strong female voice joins in. Maybe the song is the calm before the storm. Because what comes next words hardly can describe. Maybe a magic tornado which destroys everything and everyone on its path. Luciana ends the album and is dedicated to the victims of the Reocín mine disaster on August 17, 1960 - a tragic event that occurred during the festive season in Torrelavega and was swept under the rug by the then dictatorship and the company responsible. With this song the band aims to bring a nearly forgotten chapter of local history back to life. As for the music this is a real 22 minutes prog monster and musical rollercoaster on which the band shows that there are no musical boundaries. This is the centre part of the album of which everybody is waiting for! The core of the album so to speak! On this musical tornado everything is possible on the musical pallet they use. Sometimes full speed, sometimes mellow and delicate. From heavy guitar parts to classical kind of piano parts. It's all included! You can hear Dream Theater in full glory most of the time on this absolute highlight of the album. Psychic Equalizer launched an artistic challenge with Prologue To Insurrection. With only five tracks and a total running time of nearly 50 minutes the album is a statement of principles. Inviting you to listen slowly. Feel and think critically. The album doesn't seek easy effects. It's a record of contrasts and balance. One that you must discover little by little. It´s strength lies precisely in this restraint. There's nothing more beautiful than gradually discovering the beauty that others have created for you. Prologue To Insurrection is highly recommended for fans of Dream Theater, Nightwish, Epica and other bands whose musical style blends progressive rock, metal, classical, and gothic music. Listening tip: The particular highlight of the album. The epic, 22-minute track Luciana! **** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
