TRACK LIST:
1. Think I'll Stay in Bed Today 2:36
2. Lost Generation 5:11
3. Falling Away 7:43
4. Sleep in the Forest 6:20
5. Tempest of Laughter 17:02
6. Twilight Forest 6:42
7. Dark Green Glow 9:24
8. Jessica 2:31
9. Remember Me 8:21
10. Even 3:56
LINE UP :
Tobias Schroder - vocals, keybaords, percussion
Marc Andrejkovits - bass
Markus Ottenberg - guitars
Simon Schroder - drums
with:
Martin Schnella - guitars
Prolusion.
German band Issun has been a going entity since 2015 or thereabouts, initially being a solo project more than a band unit as such. Following the initial album "Issun" in 2015 this venture developed to become a proper band unit, and had stabilized a line-up prior to recording and self-releasing the album "Dark Green Glow" in 2019.
Analysis.
Issun as of 2019 is a band with one foot firmly placed inside a melodic rock context, while the other one has been wedged somewhere inside of the progressive rock universe. The variety of progressive rock explored is one closely aligned to the other side of this band's style orientation, so compelling and easy to like progressive rock is a fairly good description here I imagine.
The key elements used throughout this album are wandering piano motifs with a clean or acoustic guitar support and with on and off inclusions of tighter or harder guitar riffs proving a firmer and more vibrant undercurrent to the landscapes explored. Floating keyboard textures are used to add a lighter overlay as well as a darker undercurrent, and on occasion darker toned, beefier guitar riffs are used to emphasize a darker undercurrent or section of a song. Flowing guitar solo runs is a staple throughout, and majestic layered surges is a feature one will find in plenty of the songs too. The marimba, alongside an expressive rhythm section, will add an additional world music flavor to some of the songs.
The majority of the songs here use those elements in different combinations to create engaging and compelling landscapes operating safely inside of a melodic rock context. Songs with subtly dramatic undercurrents, emotional melodic lead vocals or lively engaging rhythms or other specific aspects engaging the listener and establishing hooks, moods and generally appealing landscapes. Always easygoing, but always with a solid nerve and tension maintained throughout as well.
The band ventures into progressive rock territories on their longer compositions. Here we have pretty much the same elements used and explored, but now with a closer focus on alterations in pace and intensity, the use of several variations of their trademark piano and guitar driven landscapes and a stronger emphasis on variety within their general framework. Existing somewhere in between an art pop and an art rock expression, the use of compelling lead and support motifs and some excellent rhythm work ensures that these longer escapades are as engaging as the shorter, more melodic rock oriented creations, but with the greater variety explored being one that should satisfy those with a taste for a more easy going variety of progressive rock.
The album concludes with a little bit of a left turn into AOR-oriented territories with a beefier, more rock dominated and subtly more dramatic and playful creation. A composition with the same high quality as the rest of the material here, but also different in sound and execution to the rest of this production.
Conclusion.
Issun as of 2019 is a band that should be of interest to many progressive rock fans. Their take on melodic rock with an elegant and playful execution, tighter on and off guitar presence and often lively and engaging rhythms is a feature that is interesting in itself, and when these are explored inside more of a progressive rock oriented context the end result is just as compelling, even when the song stretch out to the 17 minute mark. If easygoing, engaging and playful melodic rock explored as a standalone feature as well as used as a key element inside a progressive rock framework sounds intriguing, this is an album you most likely will find to be an engaging and rewarding experience.
Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room
