Detailed Reviews [Profusion - 2012 - "RewoTower"]

Prolusion. The Italian band PROFUSION can trace their roots back to the start of this millennium, originally using Mardi Gras Experience as their moniker but abandoning that name in favor of Profusion in 2002. Since then two full length productions have been released by the band, of which "RewoTower" from 2012 is their most recent.

Analysis. Profusion is a band name that does come with a few automatic associations, and for fans of progressive rock and jazz the fusion part of it very much so. And while one might suspect that thing might not be quite as one expects, this disc released on a label with something of a speciality as far as neo progressive rock and neo progressive metal is concerned, those who enjoy their jazz rock and fusion will get a few tidbits thrown their way before this disc concludes. The album as a whole does explore a rather different corner of the art rock universe admittedly, but there's a bit of fusion thrown in too. The main emphasis is of a harder hitting nature though, exploring the borderlines between progressive rock and progressive metal in a most excellent manner, to the point that you can't really describe this band as either one or the other, with frequent excursions into the firmer and more easily defined parts of the territories on each side of the border. Crunchy, energetic guitar riffs and majestic keyboard textures are just as much a feature as majestic, massive guitar riffs alone and softer, refined passages sporting plucked guitars, and melodic synth soloing complementing it in more of a harmonic manner. With powerful, positive clean lead vocals on top that suits this kind of music perfectly, and driving rhythms effectively utilized whenever the band isn't straying off into passages of a cinematic, gentle nature. The sheer variety of expressions is the single trait on this disc that will find most favor among ardent fans of progressive rock I presume. Each sequence, passage and theme explored tends to be on the accessible side construction wise, albeit liberally flavored with clever instrumental details. Each of them is easygoing in themselves, more often than not energetic and spirited too, but assembling them side by side or, as is often the case here, in a quirky and unpredictable pattern, does take this music quite a bit away from the shores of strictly commercially oriented music. The keyboards of Caradonna are something of a defining trait throughout, excelling on retro-oriented, symphonic inspired motifs just as much as a supplier of textures with more of a contemporary spirit to them. In terms of overall references for this production bands like Sylvan and Porcupine Tree often popped up in my mind, although Profusion doesn't sound like either of them or as a strict combination of those either. But distantly related to the musical child of these entities might be an ample description. As previously mentioned, with an occasional fusion-oriented detour, a brief folk music inspired interlude, and the curiously named Chuta Chani as a piece that merits a standalone description too: a variety of progressive metal I guess, with a folk music tinge to it, performed in a manner that made me recall Thin Lizzy's classic Sitamoia from many years ago. But the shining star that to my ears is the most impressive on this disc is an honor I'd hand out to opening track Ghost House, a driving, energetic feature that it's really hard not to enjoy, which is also briefly revisited in a secret track at the very end of this disc, as such supplying a great feeling of closure to the final minutes of this production. Just about the only negative aspect of this creation I can find is the production: While tight and technically perfect as far as I can tell, this is also a loud album, or compressed if you like. And while I suspect that some of the compositions rely on that feature to come across as effectively as possible, I do think that there are people out there who wouldn't mind if this disc appeared with a production of a less condensed nature at some point in time.

Conclusion. Spirited, energetic music is at the core of what Profusion supplies on their sophomore effort "RewoTower", music bordering rather than combining the music of acts like Sylvan and Porcupine Tree, but with brief detours into both folk and fusion tinged waters. Fans of the aforementioned acts as well as progressive metal fans who don't mind the occasional rock flavors in their metal diet should find this disc to be worth checking out. A good quality excursion where the compressed production most likely will be the most contested feature.

OMB=Olav M Bjornsen: May 2, 2012
The Rating Room