Italy's prog metal homeboys, Eldritch, are at it again with a fine example of the genre.It's getting to the point where if I hear that a new band is 1) Italian, 2) progressive metal, and 3) produced or mixed by Simone Mularoni, my liking them is a fait accompli. Case in point, the 10th studio album from Eldritch entitled Underlying Issues is steadily climbing up the list of contenders for our upcoming annual Kicks and Kisses List. I mean this is some great progressive metal from a band that's been around nearly a quarter of a century, bringing to bear the confidence and efficiency you'd expect to come from that experience.
My favorite thing about European progressive metal, especially the Italian variety, is the clever blending of power metal into the mix. That element of drama, held in check by prog metal's inherent sense of dynamics makes for a wonderful variation on what often ruins one of my favorite genres of metal: wankery. Too many progmetal bands focus on super intricate themes and interludes, apparently forgetting that music should be fun and - dare I say it - catchy. Eldritch gets this, as heard in Danger Zone's opening groove or in The Face I Wear's soaring chorus. From Eugene Simone's tasteful soloing (he also co-produced) to Terence Holler's temperate vocalizations, this is a solid album of proggy jams.
The Bottom Line: There's no shortage of progressive metal to be had in the world today, but some of the best of the genre relies on the restraint of experience to reign in the tendency to overdo and overplay a song. Eldritch has been around long enough to know what to avoid, which some may characterize as "playing it safe", but this implies a fear of the unknown. Veterans just know what they're doing.
- Genghis happens to like a little power metal mixed in with his progmetal...