The music world is abuzz with new releases by Yes and Dream Theater. We’re even seeing a reconstituted King Crimson rising from the ashes like a phoenix. That makes it easy to perhaps overlook newer prog rockers like Reload.
You shouldn’t. “Dark Matter,” from the French band’s forthcoming debut EP, illustrates how Reload is keeping the genre alive. Even more impressive is that Reload consists only of composer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Wright and vocalist Si Crang.
Wright does an impressive job weaving complex and swirling sounds, all of which are complimented by Crang’s vocals. Marco Migliari expertly mastered the group at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio. The result is a soaring lead guitar, tightly woven with a wave-like synth patch locked into a straight ahead and muscular drum beat.
Yet, just as the track get going, an atmospheric synth string passage and distorted vocal sneaks in. Vocalist Si Crang flexes his boy-next-door type vocal chops but is never overwhelming or overwhelmed. It’s the good stuff. The only disappointment is that we have to wait until the end of the year for more.
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