Short Reviews [P:O:B - 2006 - "Crossing Over"]

Five years after they started up, Norwegian band P:O:B (Pedestrians Of Blue) present us with their debut full-length album "Crossing Over". They cite Queensryche, Dream Theater, Black Sabbath and Toto as their primary influences, but in fact their music isn't particularly similar to either of these artists and (perhaps with the exception of Toto) is less progressively saturated as well. On most of their tunes POB are focused on melodies and catchy choruses, so none of those are notable for any unexpected transitions, and only a few of the twelve songs here reveal any distinct changes in theme etc. That said, when "Crossing Over" the band have only managed to cross the Rubicon between old-fashioned Hard Rock and what die-hard fans of heavy music call "true metal", something evoking those hairy bands from the '80s, though by using synths, samples and loops they also impart a certain modern feel to their creations. POB have a talent for making memorable melodies, and their music is good overall, but is too predictable to stimulate a prog lover to revisit it and so is destined mainly for fans of melodic metal. To a progressive mind, the main virtue of this recording is the absence of any direct influence, a sign of a truly creative approach indicating that POB potentially possess probably everything essential to become a truly prog band to watch in the future.

OMB & KW=Ken Westphal: January 2, 2008