S o u l S e a s o n s

Granted the cover is disgusting, and makes me want to throw up just looking at it (yes there is something very spooky about that) but let's just ignore that for a second. Progressive metal bands take note, this one is creating prog metal in a unique way as it should be done. Hailing from Germany, Sanvoisen is a very fine band that is putting it together and cranking it out in exceptional ways that is simply musically delightful. "Soul Seasons" came as a shocking surprise to me, I wasn't expecting the kind of high caliber song writing that is just packed all over this release. The musicianship is very high standard as well but very little of those tangled technical overdone and drawnout solos that are usually layered all over most progressive releases. Sanvoisen manages to sound sharply progressive without including all of that nonsense. There's not even a keyboardist listed in the band lineup. How can you have progressive metal without keyboard, I mean, isn't that the basis for all progressive metal? Wrong! Sanvoisen is proving you can do some excellent progmetal without keyboard as well, and make up for it by tossing two guitarists in the mix instead of just the usual one. There's Angel Schonbrunn and Hendrik Bottcher to take care of those duties, and they churn out some bottom heavy riffs, aggressive, in-your face and wrapped up in melody all at the same time. Vagelis Maranis has a great set of pipes and blasts right through the nine tracks on the disk. You can catch bits of Kiske, Midnight, Geoff Tate, Timo Kotipelto, Eduard Hovinga and even hints of Kahn at time. Speaking of Kahn, the closest thing to compare this band to is some kind of weird fusion of Conception with "Awake" Dream Theater and little chips of Elegy and Prime Time material like the song "Shadows". But I find Sanvoisen very difficult to pigeon hole, they land in their own little world somewhere, kind of like their lyrics, which show the progressive side of the band, being cryptic and strange to read and listen for, but Im sure that make sense somehow.

You'll find lots of superb bass lines, such as on "Behind My Dreams" which chugs, churns and pounds, using bass and riff happy guitars and soaring vocals to twine together and come pouring out in a melodic package. Strangely enough the guitar solo is supported by some slapping bass and a jazzy sound, before exploding back into the full force heaviness just waiting behind the curtain. Great tune with a punchy chorus. The following track, "The Difference" slows it down a notch, passionately sung, lots of acoustic guitars and slithering electric guitar, which shines in the brief solo. Squealing electric, some psychedelic twisting acoustic and sharp thumpy bass open up "Soul Seasons", the title track that falls into near heavy-prog perfection. The way the sound builds up to the chorus, with the galloping guitar riffs and singing that is similiar to LaBrie's (from Dream Theater) phrasing, that bursts out into a sweet chorus is executed very nicely without losing anything along the way. The multiple vocal pacing changes, from swiftly whipped out to held smoothly like silk, give the song a unique feel. The bass provides the basic rhythm of the song, and is given upfront time in the spotlight to open up and rawly thump that rhythm right out. "Broken Silence" serves as the ballad, relaxed, laid back, and dominantly acoustic, with a slight Carribean feel to it, and a fantastic vocal performance. A nod must go to Vagelis for carrying this song and singlehandedly shaping its personality with his versatile vocal style. "Against the Fears" barrels straight forward playing off their heavier sounds, which *slightly* reminds me of Dio's "Strange Highways" material in guitar sound. The solo however is extremely melodic and bubbly with flows into a nice drum/guitar thing where they tease each other musically before smoothing back out into the pounding headbanging feel of the instrumental backing that supports the solid vocal lines.