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Short introduction
The band AlogiA was already formed back in 2000. The band has their origins in Serbia and the album I'm reviewing here, their newest effort "Elegia Balcanica" comes with lyrics in serbian language. The style of the band can be described as Progressive Power Metal.
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| (c) by AlogiA, used with kind permission |
Alogia have played many tours all over Balkan during the last decade and also performed on many huge festivals, such as Exit, Beer fest. They also had a couple of very succesful huge solo concerts in Belgrade, SKC hall.
In addition to that they also opened for Whitesnake, Apocalyptica and Savatage. After 3 studio and one live album/dvd, the guys have released the fouth studio album “Elegia Balcanica” in September 2014 in Serbia only. A worldwide release has been scheduled for January 2015 on Miner Recordings.
You can connect with the band through their social sites such as
Facebook or
Twitter. The
website of the band has more informations on all of the band's releases.
Summary / Player
This album blows away all your sorrows and bad feelings within a few songs! That's what came up to my mind when I heard the record. The great thing is that the band for sure has a lot of technical abilities but uses them in a very minimal way. It's no question a release from the section of Progressive music but without the often lengthy sections other bands often come around with. The song and the sheer power of the music stands in the very first row and is what matters most. It's not a show of solos but a lot of technical tricky parts can be heard. Anyway. they fit very well into the organic structure of the songs so I've never had the feeling that these elements were overused. If you prefer power and fun over technical stuff this album is for you. The production is very fat with a focus on the drums and the vocals giving it a very powerfull punch.
The album is not available as complete stream for listening so I've included the official videos the band has shot for three of the albums songs at the Track by Track section. They should give you a good idea of what the music of the guys is all about.
Track-by-Track Review
1) Almagest
The instrumental opens up the CD. It perfectly shows was the listener awaits in the upcoming 30 minutes: powerfull, fast but also versatile progressive metal without too much ado. A bridge with some soft notes played in keeps in mind before a much more pushing and strong part leads towards the end. The pushing guitar riff leads directly over to the next track.
2) Callis ad Astra
The riffs keep pushing hard forwards. The voice comes in very melodic. Warm, high pitched vocals but they never get on one's nerves. The second verse comes with more darker toned vocals. A refrain that keeps in mind for sure. One can imagine this one going down very well on live shows. Think it will make a lot of people's ears opening up for the band.
3) Galija
The gas pedal is kept strong and the speed is set high. The vocals have a fast and short tone, the refrain pushes the excitement level even a bit more. Fine melodies put in a fast rhythm package.
4) Vreme je
Yeah, let's keep things straight forward this one seems to speak out. The guitars are kept shorter on this one than on the previous tracks while the keyboards form the main-theme melody. Lot's of power drumming also in here. The drummer needs to have a strong condition in this band, no doubt.
5) Elegia Balcanica
The title track opens up with a more midtempo-oriented section. The keyboards also dominate this song. A song with a more hymn like theme, while the vocals telling a more dramatic tale. Some very high screams give this a classic Metal attitude. It's surely a surprise track most listeners won't await having heard the other fours songs.
6) Ona zna (Lilith)
Again a more midtempo piece of music, also slow doublebass drums play a certain part in Ona zna. A typical riff-along-song. Nothing special but keeps you going on with the album.
7) Inferno
Back to the more brutal style track number seven screams with the extremly fast double bass drums intro. The first verse surprises with midtemo rhythm. A very versatile track The solo section has some fine elements in them, technic freaks shouldn't miss them. Guess some will try to replay these parts. :-) Surely hard to get by. Cool vocals, with a nice melody and structure, quite a good idea for such a song.
8) U tiĊĦini
A hard and dirty riff opens song number eight. A midtempo-stomping track that goes into a unusual direction but is very welcomed. It brings up a bit rougher note that adds some variation to the album. I think it will stick in the minds of many listeners for the hacking rhythm.
9) Intentionally blind (bonus)
A bonus track paying tribute to Chuck Schuldiner and the legacy he formed mostly with his main band Death. Featuring Seven Kingdom on vocals this bonustrack goes into a very straight and brutal direction (small wonder when you think about the Death Metal origin of the track) also some melody still remains in this track. A nice kick-them-out for the album and a unexspected,too.
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