Progressive Metal Reviews


Into The Unknown
MIND'S EYE



Mind's Eye are :
Fredrik Grunberger on Guitar
Daniel Flores on Drums, Percussion and Keyboards
Johan Persson on Vocals
Johan Niemann on Bass

The tracks are :
1. The Other Side Of Me (6:36)
2. In Chase Of Time (5:54)
3. Almost There (6:19)
4. Wishes In The Wind (3:53)
5. Questions (5:37)
6. Am I Waiting? (5:10)
7. Light Waves (4:08)
8. Without The Sun (7:19)

The first track is 'The Other Side Of Me', a track that starts off farly quietly with some atmospheric keyboards, nice intricate guitar work and nice percussion. When the band comes in the guitar has a much heavier sound to it, but this track is forever changing in direction, mood and tempo. Great vocals from Johan. Drums have a good solid sound to them and there's some pretty nifty bass line too. There's also some outstanding guitar work from Fredrik.

The next track is 'In Chase of Time', a nice track, the vocals are powerful but still show a great deal of emotion. Powerful rhythm section and superb guitar work from Fredrik.

The third track is 'Almost There', this track has a fairly quiet intro, until the band come in. This is another track with a powerful rhythm section. Powerful vocals from Johan, but again, this is another track that keeps changing direction, mood and tempo.

The next track is 'Wishes In The Wind', starting with some nice keyboards, this track is very much in the style of Dream Theater. Nice acoustic guitar and nice, but soft vocals from Johan.

'Questions', is a heavier track with lots of intricate guitar work. Powerful vocals, great rhythm, but still maintaining a nice melody. This track is slightly more complex than previous tracks, constantly changing direction. Superb guitar work.

The Sixth track is 'Am I Waiting', played on acoustic guitar, showing at times a classical influence, but at times sounds dark and haunting. Nice vocals, mellow but with emotion. Towards the end there is some outstanding guitar work.

The next track is 'Light Waves', an instrumental with a nice combination of guitar and keyboards, this track is more jazz/fusion influenced with a funky bass sound and some stunningly fast guitar work. Good strong melody and a strong drum sound.

The final track is 'Without The Sun', contains quite a lot of heavy guitar, but it is quite intricate. Powerful vocals, nice harmonies. There are nice changes in direction, mood and tempo. Once again nice vocals.

Mind's Eye are a Swedish quartet who combine metal, rock, jazz/fusion and even latin styles into one. Into The Unknown contains 8 tracks lasting nearly 45 minutes. The music is at time similar to Treasure Land, Lion's Share, Sieges Even, Psychotic Waltz and Dream Theater. The production quality as wellas well as the musicianship is outstanding. Mind's Eye play with lots of creativity and create a series of moods to experience.
Highly Recommended!!!


Released on Sensory (a division of Laser's Edge). P.O.Box 388. Voorhees, New Jersey,, 08043 0388, USA.
Tel: 609 751 6444
Fax: 609 751 7466
Email : lasercd@aol.com


...Waiting for The Tide

MIND'S EYE

 

Tracklist:
1. Frozen Tears (6.53)
2. Calling (Father to Son) (5.48)
3. A Pond of Thoughts (4.46)
4. Closer (Spirits in the Room Part 1) (5.19)
5. In my Mind (Spirits in the Room Part 2) (7.52)
6. Primitive Light (5.42)
7. Jealousy in Disguise (6.21)
8. Fall on Trust (4.19)
9. Circles in the Sand (6.34)
10. ...Fade Out (1.10)

Once again I have the privilege to review an overwhelmingly good Swedish Progressive Metal band.

Mind's Eye's second album "-Waiting for the Tide" will probably be one of my favourite albums in the progressive metal genre at the end of the year.

Though I haven't heard of them before, the band was originally formed in 1992 as Afterglow. Their highly complex metal is showing a band of excellent musicians, and the compositions is blending progressive metal with a little bit of AOR and fusion.

You can hear some reminiscences to bands such as Dream Theater, Marillion, Queensryche, Rush, Vanden Plas and Yes. Andreas Novak who has performed in Sweden and Lithuania with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" last year handles the strong and powerful vocals.

The beautiful cover artwork are a masterpiece in it's own rights. Not surprisingly it's done by the magnificent Mattias Norén who have created art works for bands such as Arena, Forgotten Suns, Mayadome, Mourningstar and Triangle, Wolverine.

This is a high quality Swedish progressive metal album that is highly recommended. Don't just go waiting for the album, go buy it!

ROUND RECORDS RR001

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-