Extension Of The Wish

When it comes to progressive metal, most people can agree that Dream Theater was one of the most influential acts of the 90s, literally spawning LOTS of bands popping up from all different parts of the world. Many of them such as Symphony X, Threshhold, Symphorce, Madsword, and countless others have taken DT's sound from their Images & Words album and came up with their own way of interpretting that style. Even still, these bands did little to set themselves apart from their contemporaries, thereby canceling out the term "progressive." What progressive really means is that a band is able to come up with a fresh and original sound that they can call their own, and have very little to no comparison to other bands. Andromeda is one of the few who I can honestly say that pull it off. Not only that, but they do it with such ease as well.

The band is made up of Johan Reinholds(guitars), Martin Hedin(keyboards), Gert Daun(bass), and Thomas Lejon(drums). Also included is session vocalist Lawrence Mackrory. These guys all come from Sweden, which is home to a number of outstanding metal bands like Sonata Artica. All the members play with such precision and complexity, but manage to also feature very INNOVATIVE songwriting. But here is the best part: THEY ARE ALL IN THEIR EARLY 20'S AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST ALBUM! No debut album ever has this good of musicianship and production from most any band I've ever heard. Reinholds manages the guitars in a very dexteritous manner, and in doing so creates a lot of memorable riffs and melodies. Hedin's keyboard textures are all very melodic and once in a while he pops in a few cool solos here and there. The background synths are all a nice compliment for the songs. The drumming is also very well performed as are the bass guitar parts. Even though Mackrory was only a temporary vocalist for the band, he still pulled off a memorable and varied performance. He's a bit different than most and his range is incredible. Altogether, the five make one hellova progressive metal band.

The albums starts off with ONE OF THE BEST OPENER GUITAR RIFFS I'VE EVER HEARD in 'The Words Unspoken'. This riff has a catchy hook which could easily pull in a whale. The song alternates from midpaced to doubletime between the verses and chorus. Next is my favorite track off the album, 'Crescendo Of Thoughts'. Very melodic with a perfect chemistry between guitars and keyboards. This is one song where you can say it is both simple and complex all in one. 'In The Deepest Of Waters' is more of a fast paced romp, and one of the album's heavier tracks. At the very least, this track perfectly demonstrates that the guitarist can play FAST. 'Chameleon Carnival' is simply an instrumental jam session that lets the band go to town with their playing. My least favorite track on here, though it is still awesome. Then there is 'Star Shooter Supreme', the album's heaviest track, letting the guitars take charge and letting the vocals become more intense in this all-out headbanger muscle number. The title track clocks in at 10 minutes and is arguably the most melodic track on the album. Several timechanges and memorable melodies make this song stand out to me. 'Arch Angel' is another favorite of mine, closing out the album with a combination of a catchy melodic sense and technicality.

Overall, Extension Of The Wish is a milestone release of the new millenium which shows great hope for the future of prog metal. I still haven't heard any of their new album yet, but if this is any indication, then they will only continue to become greater over time. The only two gripes I have with the album are that at only seven songs, the album is simply too short leaving the listener wanting more, and that the drums are difficult to hear during the heavier songs. Still, quality over quantity always pays off for those willing to give it a chance. Andromeda certainly knows how to invest their time in creating quality music. If you're tired of hearing the same progressive metal style which copies Dream Theater and want something new and fresh, then Extension Of The Wish is the perfect album for you. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Other recommendations:
-'Burn The Sun' by Ark
-'II=I' by Andromeda
-'Blink Of An Eye' by Enchant