Four tracks of delight
The fact they were formed by members of bands such as UK metal underground favourites Dreamcatcher and Power Quest might explain why Memoreve have emerged into the light with a record that is quite this good, whatever, its fair to say that MV wasn’t expecting anywhere near this type of quality when this four tracker landed in the inbox.
In an age where umpteen bands say they are Progressive Metal and are actually just a bunch of kids in skinny jeans screaming over some riffs they found in the recycling bin outside Meshuggah’s recording studio, it comes as something of a joy to find a genuine prog metal record.
Only four tracks at this stage, so you hesitate to go too far overboard, but crikey this is good.
Best listened to as a whole piece – there are no gaps in the songs, you imagine for just that purpose – it is still possible to pick out moments of glory on each of the songs.
The opening of the title track, for example, has echoes of Marillion, managing to sound epic in the space of just over five minutes. “These Reflections” comes almost halfway inbetween some imaginary world where Dream Theater and latter day Tesseract are jamming. It’s lush when it needs to be, but a real chugging thumper when it chooses too.
“Descendent” is the heaviest song on the record, as well as being the most ambitious and probably the best on a stand-alone basis, while the closing “Alleviate” messes with the rhythms, adds some keyboard flourishes and creates a sonic world that you just get lost in.
Barely a note out of place, but never sounding cold and clinical, “Insignia” is a really special EP, expertly played, conceived and sounding fantastic, the band themselves have said it is only their first chapter on the way to a full album.
We waited with baited breath.
Rating 9/10
