America certainly think they have found the "chicken with the golden eggs" by introducing prog metal. To be original though you need more than putting some synth sounds above some hard-etched guitar riffs. That's certainly something Persephone's Dream have understood. On Moonspell it's mainly singer Karin Nicely who is the focal point of the band's music embodying Legend, Renaissance and The Gathering all into one. The music of this four piece is often dark, extra emphasized by the five string bass of Chris Siegle. Without any doubt one of my favourite tracks has to be "Evident Dreams" where that fragile voice pierces through that solid wall of bass like a ray of sunshine through thick clouds. In a way you could see this music as a symphonic variation of the music by The Cure. The tension is augmented during "Alternative Reality" where the rhythm speeds up and the heavy, dark backing vocals try to complement Karin's voice. "Earth Dreams" is an experiment "pur-sang" where various atmospheres and rhythmic collages are linked to each other in order to give this composition a very unpredictable character. Especially the repetitive pattern on the bongos is addictive. Of course this remains very brave to integrate something as experimental as this in the middle of an album yet it's exactly this move which typecasts this band. Persephone's Dream has the talent to allow itself to leave the path of progressive rock and try something completely different all in the cause of good music. Listen to the electro-techno of "Electronic Exotic" where Rush and Cure melt together. The final song "Doorways" is typical for the kind of music this band produces being a colourful mixture of different atmospheres drifting on the wonderful crystal-clear voice of Karin Nicely yet without any annoying solo's. Certainly a band to watch out for! Reviewed by : John 'Bobo' Bollenberg |
