By: Anders

Posted: May 20, 2007

The mighty Spock's Beard released their self titled album last year, and that was of course one of the best progressive rock releases of 2006, how could it be otherwise? It seems like the band can't set a foot wrong, they just keep on churning out well-weighed and beautiful releases.

While the last album "Octane" was high powered and very energetic, this album is more laidback and thoughtful, of course we have a swinging rocker in 'Is This Love?', a really good, energetic and cheerful song. Though most of the rest of the album is mysterious and opens up for letting ones mind wander and think things through. Either along the lines of the mostly great lyrics or in a path of their own.

Musically there isn't anything to put on the album, it's all sweet as usual, the guitars are good to exceptional, the bass heavy and smooth, the drumming good and effective and the keys, always on spot and in their right place. The music is flowing very well, like a calm and steady river, the music is very well written and catchy, even though parts of this album might be harder to get into compared to the very straight forward "Octane". The vocals from D'virgilio have also gotten more depth and are more varied, a nice progression, he is really starting to use his voice as an instrument.

Spock's Beard has returned with a new great album, not an album that will enter the top 3 of their best works, but that is hardly expected anymore, as that would call for an album better than amazing, but still a really well done and smooth album, with great elements and a lot of space for thinking, and the music has a lot of layers as well, very well written music, and just as superbly executed. It doesn't seem like the creative well Spock's Beard is getting their music from is near drying up, and that is good, more albums of this quality can always be used.

Spock's Beard website

Review of "Gluttons For Punishment"

Distributed in Denmark and kindly supplied by Target

Buy the album at

Buy merchandise at

Print