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In a time when we are unfortunately invaded by awful Dream Theater clones, here comes the English Linear Sphere that presents itself as one of the freshest and best new comers in the prog-metal fields.
This five piece band dedicates mind and soul on a far more technical and intense project than a typical reinterpretation of the usual American band. 'Reality Dysfunction' chills your bones. The extraordinary musicianship is able to create complicated compositions at the same time with tribal moments and at other times totally into fusion, with excellent modern moments and other far more violent and exasperated, that never bore the listener. It's my duty to remember that this album is totally different from the other 99% of 'want to be progressive album', even more because of Jos Geron's vocals; he modulates his voice into atypical fields for a prog singer, being more raw and unusual, he almost growls, screams, with really evil and sick vocals.
It is amazing how this band sounds like a 70's prog rock band that plays modern metal. Nick, the drummer reminded me of the greatest Sean Reinhert, thanks to his powerful drumming and yet hyper technicality not from this world! It is monstrous guitar work, which goes from extreme scales and intricate rhythms till more atmospheric and acid moments, supported by an incredible technical bass, which is compressed as is the Pantera one. If I must compare Linear Sphere to a band, then I must say they are similar to Meshuggah going extremely technical, due to a soert of evilness that goes through all the compositions. The opening track 'Reversal' is an 11 minute long prog rock song, but with a strong injection of sickness, powerful riffs and the incredible vocals that go from a clean type of singing to a more thrash-core style. Often, the album reaches the heaviness of Cynic. The atmosphere is always obscure and oppressive, even in the more soft moments you can feel the darkness coming through. 'Father Pyramid' is a track absurd in technicality with a horror movie kind of keyboard sound, proper of an industrial black metal band. I do believe they are so particular, that they will be appreciated not only from the prog metal lovers, but also those that like to hear powerful music well produced and well performed.
It is definitely unique to hear a band that in one song goes from a Mudvayne style to a more fusion direction without boring the listener. In the song 'Ceremony Master', Jos performs two to three different vocal styles that remind me of Wade Black, with his high pitched screaming and unusual modulations, a little out of the ordinary, meanwhile the band comes through as a war machine and a typical hard rock Hammond. 'Life of Gear' is Pink Floyd from Mars, between keyboards and acoustic guitars and it helps to take a breath in the middle of this damned heavy album. The monster track on the album is 'From Space To Time' a suite in four chapters, 25 minutes long, which has the only tiny defect to be sounding a little similar to many other bands, loosing the consistency carried up to this moment. I think it would have been completely difficult for the band to be original with this kind of track.
Taking into consideration that this is the only one which follows the already heard standards, I strongly believe that nobody can negate to Linear Sphere the right to have created an album totally different from the rest of the prog world, maybe creating the basis for a new wave of prog metal, which will bring freshness to this dry prog world. This is just their debut album and I am damned curious to hear the next one and bet on what they might be able do. To the next step?!!!