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Ice Age - Liberation
Il Balleto Di Bronzo - Ys
Imaginery - Long Lost Pride
In The Name - s/t
Interpose+ - Indifferent
Iron Mask - Hordes of The Brave
Izzizari, Massimo - Unstable Balance

Ice Age - Liberation
Magna Carta
(2001)

Liberation is 2nd offering from Ice Age. Comparing to their first album, Liberation is bit toward progressive rock/melodic rock side than heavy prog metal style. There are still complicated and technical ensembles in prog metal style, but getting little mellower and softer sounding, due to some kind of humanitarian and liberation issue on Tibet area in China (in my guess, anyway). Personally, I prefer their bombastic and intricate style on their first album. However, Liberation is mostly song-oriented format, so this might appeal broad audience in melodic rock and prog rock scene.

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Il Balleto Di Bronzo - Ys
Polydor
(1972)

Probably, this is one of best Italian heavy symphonic prog rock bands in the Italian rock history. All sung in Italian language with bit spooky and strange vocal harmony. Musically, it is really intense and powerful heavy prog rock influenced by King Crimson and some other heavy rock bands like Black Sabbath, maybe. What I am interested in this band is that lots of retro-keyboard sounds and solos are featured. Ys probably appeals even the heavy rock and prog metal listeners who have never challenged prog rock music in general.

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Imaginery - Long Lost Pride
Lion Music
(2005)

Wow, this is so fantastic melodic metal band assembled by Greek's keyboard player, Bob Katsionis. In Greek, Bob has been really very active for his projects and bands besides helping out his co-workers, such as Firewind. With Lion Music's helping hand, Imaginery includes great musicians, such as Tears of Anger's singer Bjorn Jansson. Besides Bjorn's soulfully energetic hard vocals, the incredible guest guitar players like Marcel Coenen of Sun Caged and Gus G. from Firewind/Dream Evil shine on their solo spots. Just like Kationis' solo albums, Bob also takes a role of some different tasks like playing keyboards/guitars. To my ears, Long Lost Pride has several straight-forward bombastic melodic metal in the beginning, but also includes some complex parts on latter part of the disc. All musicians pull off really great ensembles and dynamic solos. Relatively produced by tastly sound productions make the listeners quite happy. I am also quite thrilled to hear nice melodies and up-tempo sections with some complex ensembles occasionally appearing on some tunes from Long Lost Pride album. Entirely, I have enjoyed this one so much. Long Lost Pride appeals to the fans of both ProgPower metal and melodic metal music in general.

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In The Name - s/t
Independent Release
(1995)

If my memory serves correctly, this Canadian prog metal group was formerly known as Kingsbane. What In The Name showcases here on this self-titled cd sounds really interesting. They can be classified as prog metal, but they do not sound typical prog metal groups that you would imagine. They sound similar to what N8 and Psychotic Waltz play. On the other hand, some hard rocking moments remind me of King's X and Soundgarden. Very nice album I think, but some people who enjoy Kingsbane days have said the era of Kingsbane sounds much better than this. I wish I'd like to hear their demo materials from Kingsbane. Anyway, the cd of In The Name overall sound really solid and very fantastic. It has quite nice results on their first cd. I think it's quite sad that they are not in the scene of prog metal virtually.

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Interpose+ - Indifferent
Poseidon Records
(2007)

To be honest with you, I was not familiar with this group before. By the way, Interpose+ is a Japanese symphonic rock group. According to the info, 'Indifferent' is their second full-length album. Since their album has been distributed through Musea Records in France, the name of this Japanese symphonic group seems to have been well-received among prog rock fans in Europe and America. As I mentioned in this context, what they are good at performing Japanese style prog rock with symphonic elements. The instrumental interplay is relatively as strong as other symphonic rock groups in Poseidon Records. The guitar parts are quite solid, but they do not go over into the realm of prog metal sounds at all. On the other hand, the keyboard parts are pleasing even the ears of melodic prog metal fans somehow. In the good tradition of Japanese prog rock groups, Interppose+ features a female lead vocalist who has a nice voice to have a capability to both English and Japanese. In addition, the performance by themselves is relatively friendly and approacheable for every music listener. I think it's very good to see the prog fans of Interpose and the bands on Poseidon Records abroad warmly welcome Japanese sounds and prog performance with their sincere hearts. Of course, Interpose+ has solid prog ensemble and passionate sounds to enjoy the music fully. Overall, the music and songs on their second album are very nicely done. The fans of Japanese prog would definitely enjoy their second album entirely I hope.

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Iron Mask - Hordes of The Brave
Lion Music
(2005)

This is the first time to check out the cd of Iron Mask from Belgium. Even though I have never heard of their first album, this second album of Iron Mask features quality neo-classical power metal. Definately, the focal point of this band is a neo-classical shredder, Dushan Petrossi's incredible smooth guitar performance a la Yngwie Malmsteen. From the begining to the end, there are lots of bombastic neo-classical furious power metal tracks featured. I think that neo-classical power metal bands seem to have been over-saturated or over-flooded nowadays in the metal music scene, but Iron Mask has successfully managed to lay down energetic fast and up-tempo tracks with fresh ideas. On this new album, we see notable guest musicians, such as Richard Andersson of Majestic/Space Odyssey, At Vance/Empty Tremor singer Oliver Hartmann, and so forth. Iron Mask's main influence is undeniably Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, but Iron Mask's music sounds more similar to At Vance and Concerto Moon in my opinion. I am impressed with the sound production and performance overall. If you are into the style of neo-classical power metal and European melodic power metal, this is it.

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Izzizari, Massimo - Unstable Balance
Lion Music
(2007)

This is the Italian virtuostic guitar player's debut full-length album from Lion Music. Before starts talking about this debut cd by Massimo Izzizari, again I want to drop a line about Lion Music. Maybe, you folks think I add lots of Lion Music artists and bands lately (or maybe since several years ago). Lion Music is a not typical guitar/progressive music label, you might wonder. This label has definitely quite keen ears and eyes to various gems and treasures out there in the scene of progressive metal and guitar-oriented instrumentals. Every time I check out the music of Lion Music's newcomers and unknown musicians, mostly I get astonished with fresh approach and exciting instrumental works most time. Yup, sometimes I could not get into a few Lion Music's cds from some artists/groups (you know how impossible to praise all cds that I heard), but mostly the music released from Lion Music I've heard in some years is extra-ordinary and fantastic for any instrumental or prog metal music fans. Having said that, finally I'd like to discuss the cd of 'Unstable Balance'. To be honest, I'd never heard of his name before I tried out his music. I could not imagine what kind of music came about. Anyway, I checked out the cd throughly, and my impression is WOW. 'Unstable Balance' features lots of nice guitar works and great instrumental compositions all over the place. His virtuostic instrumental style reminds me of Greg Howe and another talented Italian guitarist Alessandro Benvenuti (whose music is really AMAZING, btw). But, Massimo Izzizari has his own idioms and vocaburaries of playing. Obviously, he is really good at performing hard fusion-like intense style with dynamic progressive guitar solos and great rhythm parts. At the same time, he also plays jazz rock, hard-driving rock, smooth and mellower music as well. Even though this is his first debut cd, Massimo proves that he is such an experienced and fantastic musician known in the Italian music scene. His backing members in the rhythm section and guest are also very superb to support him. Of course, the focal point of this cd is Massimo Izzizari's extraordinary guitar chops and song-writing skills. Amazing and amazing, and I'm quite happy to hear his music on this cd. The production is also nice and smooth to hear. Everything on the cd has been done great. I have nothing to complain about his materials here. If you are into the guitar music written and performed by excellent players, you need to pay attention to his works. This is a really smashing and incredible guitar works I've heard in 2007. I wish he would continue making incredible music. Looking forward to his another work in the future. Highly Recommended for guitar instrumental fans!!

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