Souljourner - Mind Control

[Cheiron]

Best new prog metal band, and one of the best (if not the best) prog metal albums released this year.

They are a melodic prog metal band, but with very interesting passages. Instrumentally they are solid but the songs keep moving along. Nothing seems out of place. Nothing feels like it was chopped up on the editing floor and slapped in to a song.

There's certainly a modern feel to them, but in all the best ways. Their songs range from fairly moderate paced, moderate aggression to Nevermore'ish aggression. It would be incorrect to label these guys as a clone of anybody else. They are building off the traditions of great bands and creating something that is quite new. At times though it almost feels like a more progressive version of Disturbed or Godsmack. But the band changes things up enough that this label isn't consistent.

 

[General Zod]

Interesting. Thanks for the review. I'll definitely check this out.

Zod

 

[Cheiron]

Here's Pardo's review. He gave it 5/5 stars.

http://seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=6667

 

[Sir Exar Kun]

At times though it almost feels like a more progressive version of Disturbed or Godsmack.

Comparisons like this would have actually scared me away from this disc! Although I am not a nu-metal (or whatever it is called) fan, I don't hear anything on this album that makes me think of nu-metal.

I agree completely that this is one of the best prog releases this year, however. Combine the songwriting patience of Vanden Plas, with the modest complexity of Dreamscape, with the sound of Superior, and this is close to what you get here. The vocalist does have a more "modern" sound (I have heard the closest comparison is to Staind), but he fits so pefectly with the music that I tend to forget the modern element.

This is an absolute must sample for any fans of the above bands!

 

[Ascension]

I listed this release as one of my highlights so far for '08 about a month ago...

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/progpower-usa/383721-solid-08-releases-so-far-8.html

The vocals do have a modern texture...but this is definitely a prog metal band...good stuff.

 

[Bear]

They are pretty damn good. Young cats too...Look forward to hearing the full album.

Bear

 

[Cheiron]

I don't hear anything in the last two Disturbed albums that makes me think of nu metal.

Its primarily in the more 'modern' vocals that I hear influences of bands like Disturbed and Godsmack. I forget which song though and in the phrasing it makes me think of something like Disturbed meets Dream Theater or something like that. But the band will also sit in pure prog land at times. I think the differences from song to song is a testament of the quality of the band. They have more chops and songwriting abilities than to just have one single sound repeated 8 times for 72 minutes.

 

[zedowns]

Fantastic album! Though after the complaints of a somewhat "nu-metal" sounding vocalist, the guys decided to go ahead and rerecord the album with a bigger name behind the mic.

Of course to fit the sound of the music they needed a slight change in name.

 

[swayn3rd]

LOL. I can't breathe.

 

[Harvester]

Fantastic album! Though after the complaints of a somewhat "nu-metal" sounding vocalist, the guys decided to go ahead and rerecord the album with a bigger name behind the mic.

LOFL.

 

[Winds]

LOLL

 

[MEGALOUD]

They are pretty damn good. Young cats too...Look forward to hearing the full album.

Bear

SOULJOURNERS-Mind control....
Available at your friendly Nightmare Records dealer