Short Reviews [Soundscape - 2024 - "Revival"]

This four-track release is not by the American prog metal band who released a few albums a while back but instead is the first release since this Polish group's debut album "Syn?sthesia Deluxe" which was released 10 years ago. Now featuring Krzysztof Siryk (guitar), Przemyslaw Zubowicz (vocals), Mariusz Bieniasz (drums) and Tomasz Marmol (bass). Their debut release was viewed by many as progressive death metal, but there has been quite a change here, with a direction which is now way more polished in style and approach. I know Siryk was on the debut, while the singer was Krzysztof Dybas who had a few gruffer approach, so am not sure if it is the inclusion of Zubowicz which has seen the change, or if the band had made the decision which is why they got him. This four-track 24-minute-long release finds band which has been influenced by Muse, Porcupine Tree, Anathema, Leprous and even Coldplay with a style which is very polished and crossover prog to the core. The vocals are clear and in unaccented English, while the use of space and effects is very important within the commercial soundscapes being delivered. The result is something which is very pleasant even though it never feels that it has a great deal of depth. It is very modern in sound and approach, and it will be interesting to see how the band develops from here as they manage to keep just enough crunch to prevent the sugar from getting too much. Will they revert more to their roots and go heavier (as there is the impression on "Kill You Thousand Times" that Siryk would like to do just that) or stay in a more well-trodden path? Whatever comes next, I am sure we will not have to wait another ten years for it to arrive.