Short Reviews [Deep Limbic System - 2024 - "Katharsi"]

Eight years on from their debut, Mexican progressive act DLS are back with their second album. Given the amount of time which has passed it is somewhat surprising to realise that only guitarist Efrain Fraire is no longer a member of the band, as he left during the recording of this album so provides some additional guitar on just three tracks. He has been replaced by Leonel Huerta while the rest of the band are still Sergio Sunga (vocals, guitars), Carlos Barcenas (keyboards), Angel Natividad (bass) and Jose Armengol (drums and percussion). The result is an album which is very much middle of the road crossover, with some heavier touches here and there, and the initial reaction is that this is a band who will appeal to fans of Porcupine Tree, RPWL, modern Marillion and Big Big Train as well as the likes of Pineapple Thief. For me the album works best when they are punching the guitars, such as in sections of closing number '?mega', but when they are taking the music in a more modern and quieter direction, I feel my attention shifting. But I am also very aware that this is my personal taste (the last few times I have seen Marillion I have vowed never to do so again, I am a slow learner) and there are plenty of people out there who will find this a very interesting album indeed. The production is good, the arrangements very well structured and the vocals excellent, it is just not a style of progressive rock which I want to spend a lot of time listening to. This may not be for me, but if you like the bands above and enjoy your prog to be easy to listen to then this may well be for you.