DANTE - review added 21st July 2010
Album Review: Saturnine (2010)
For fans of: Prog Rock... and nods to Metallica
Dante - Markus Maichel on piano and keyboards, Markus Berger on guitars, Christian Eichlinger on drums and orchestration, Alexander Göhs on vocals, and Michael Neumeier on bass - was founded in Germany in 2006 by school pals Markus & Markus.
In 2008 they released their debut album "The Inner Circle". It wasn't long after the release of the album that they started work on follow-up "Saturnine".
The sound of Dante is best explained by their influences and musical loves - Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and more. This is a band that mixes classic drawn-out progressive melodies, serene hooks, mystical riffs and complex rhythms with flourishes of heavy metal, thrash and straight ahead hard rock.
The result is very pleasant on the ears, and all rather epic. The 12 minute 'All My Life' is an album in itself, containing more good music than many entire records. 'Drifting' is a mellow, dreamy number that's perhaps more mood-dependent than the first, but there's no questioning the quality. 'Last', as contrast, is a heavier affair boasting a top speedy riff and cool angry vibe. 'Never Return' starts off like something from an old Metallica album before heading through the 1970s and finishing in a 1980s synth box. It's mad, but it works.
'Maybe One Day', Saturnine's shortest song at just under 4 minutes, is another slow number with a pleasant vibe. 'Modal Acousma' is a wonderfully atmospheric instrumental number. 'Vanessa', at 19 minutes, arguably outstays its welcome. There is some genius work in there, but there is also a fair slab of filler. If the roughage had been cut out, this would have made a killer 10 minute track.
Saturnine is an excellent prog album, be in no doubt. It has a few moments of lesser material, but who cares? They are far outweighed by all the fantastic parts and passages, and as a whole this record confirms Dante as one of this year's finest progressive acts.
Check out... Just about all of it.
Track List:
01. All My Life
02. Drifting
03. Last
04. Never Return
05. Maybe One Day
06. Modal Acousma
07. Vanessa
Label: Prog Rock Records
Artist's website(s): Dante | MySpace
