Detailed Reviews [Force of Progress - 2020 - "A Secret Place"]

Prolusion. German band Force of Progress started out as a collaborative effort more than as a band proper from what I understand. Following their initial production "Calculated Risk" in 2017, that was more a collection of individual contributions, it seems like they have more of a band identity for their second production "A Secret Place". The album was released through German label Progressive Promotion Records back in 2020, and since its launch the band have also released a third production, "R3Design", which appeared in 2021.

Analysis. Instrumental progressive rock and instrumental progressive metal are the cornerstones of the landscapes explored by Force of Progress. And as such productions go, this is one of those where the band seek to include the entire width and scope of their talents and creativity into each song, resulting in compositions with an at times great variety in style and orientation. A more bombastic and dramatic take on especially symphonic progressive hard rock and progressive metal are defining features of this album, with richly layered arrangements and driving, high intensity escapades coming at you in something of a fast and furious tempo at times. The description Wagnerian is tempting to use on many occasions, and in some cases a word like chaotic appears to be appropriate as well. There isn't a lack of expressive details and quirky instrument features on this production, but the finer details and the nuances have perhaps been left behind on a few occasions. Some of the compositions become way too top heavy with sweeping dramatic surges, some become lost in a high paced landscape where the tapestry becomes a bit more garbled rather than clear and focused. I find the band most interesting when they also make room for the gentler escapades and the finer details, when some pastoral landscapes are let in, when a playful jazzrock details is given time and space to breathe, when the keyboards focus on the gentler details as well as the more bombastic and dominant displays. Variety and a more subtle approach suits this band much better than going all out on the use of powerful layers and thundering runs in my opinion. The impression I get with this album is that this is a band still searching for a bit of an identity, and still trying out how to combine their talents in the most appropriate and appealing manner. A bit more of "this sounds cool man" and perhaps not as much of "oh man, this stuff sounds amazing" if you catch my drift. An uneven journey, with some intriguing highs along the way but also with moments that are on the less engaging side of matters.

Conclusion. Force of Progress is a band that as of 2020 cram and combine a great deal of features into their instrumental escapades, ranging from delicate pastoral sequences and careful moments to bombastic, dramatic and occasionally chaotic trips into landscapes with a hard symphonic progressive rock and progressive metal orientation respectively. While the album as such comes across as an uneven one, those with a more passionate interest in instrumental progressive rock and instrumental progressive metal will find both interesting and appealing material here. I can easily see many people enjoying parts of this album, but I suspect that the number of people enamored with the total album experience will be a bit more limited as far as this production goes.

Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room