Kaeaermelautakunta [Import]

these guys are a blast featuring 2 electric cellos, trombone, various saxes, keyboards and drums playing a twisted blend of heavy metal jazz with eastern European flavor. Everything is done with a tongue in cheek sense of humor yet scary at the same time. Almost a Tim Burton funeral march that you can dance to.

There comes a time in our lives when we are just no longer satisfied with the same old flavors, doesn't there? Even in the realm of Progressive Rock, where everything goes, things start to sound samey. I mean, how many times can one listen to Thick as a Brick? So I set out to find something really unique that I could enjoy on as many levels as I used to enjoy bands like King Crimson and Genesis. Bands that could compose and play like mad, and with personality. I've always been drawn toward the Prog bands from the Nordic countries where my own heritage lies, so I sifted through The Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock, an online resource I've referred to since the '90's, to find something beyond the obvious. Alamaailman Vasarat! These guys provide everything I was looking for. They use traditional instruments - not a guitar or synthesizer in sight. Two cellos, woodwinds, trombone, pump organ and piano are all anchored with some tremendous drumming. I never thought I could get excited about a band that features a trombonist as one of it's frontmen, but there you are. Watch some of the live videos on youtube and you'll get what I mean about personality. And when they start shredding those cellos the sound is as chuggingly powerful as any speed metal band. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a recording so much that I've deliberately avoided listening to it for fear of getting tired of it. This is something to be savored.