Welcome to the fascinating new CD of KURGAN’S BANE from Baltimore. The listener will be taken along on a progressive journey, mixing rock riffs with various different layers. Especially the instrumental parts are moving from one way to another, constantly asking for your special attention. Lisa’s vocals are fresh, and she gives her bandmates enough room to express themselves in long instrumental breaks. Which results in a whole new approach of the progressive rock sound of today. It never gets too complex, but it’s far more than just the ordinairy rock music. Here and there, you may hear some RUSH, DREAM THEATER or FATES WARNING influences, but the warm sound of Lisa’s voice is a special treat here. Let’s take “Time Has Come” as an example here. The song works itself towards the time the guitar solo appears. A normal approach would be that the song continues after the solo, with a refrain and slowly works itself to the ending. Instead, they put in a longer instrumental part, in which bass player Luis Nasser may prove his skills. That little part lifts the songs up to a much higher level. And this is just one example of the little innovative things, that KURGAN’S BANE put into their music. Besides Lisa and Luis, the band still exists of the Laramee brothers Pete on guitar and Jeff on drums. “Asstro” is the only instrumental track on this new CD, which runs for a full hour. For me, one of the highlights on this new CD is “The Spectator”, because of its mindblowing guitarwork. If you’re a guitar fetishist like me, you will agree. The band may not be as progressive as LANA LANE for example, but they prove there is still room for good progressive rock music out there.
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This CD Rocks And very Refreshing.Stand out tracks are I'm Alive ,Mirrage And Time has Come.
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It took several listens before I realised that there are very few keyboards used on this album - yet the sound is incredibly full. I put that down to the skill of the guitarist and the ever-changing but always tight rhythm section. Musically, the album is quality prog-rock with good variety of sounds, tempo, rhythm. Add to the that the beautiful vocals of Lisa Francis, and you have an album that will be listened to many, many times. Overall, a very solid release, well worth checking out.
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Apparently the band opted for a more in-your-face delivery on this one and saved their more proggy leanings for their other band, since three of them are in both groups. Most of the songs emphasize Francis' beautiful vocals, ranging from midtempo stuff to more higher register vocal lines and some mellow tunes. Some songs worth mentioning are "Override" for its excellent dynamics constantly moving from soft to heavy parts that are always kept within a melodic blueprint. "Mirage" is not only the longest song, but also their most progressive moment. With an evil bass intro, crashing cymbals from Jeff who also lays down some really complex drum beats, the song features Francis' vocals in a different mood, thanks to a clever mixing job in the studio. I am reminded of early 80's Rush when listening to this song, but soon enough, Pete Laramee slices through the piece with an outstanding guitar solo that quickly breaks into an extended instrumental passage, enriched with various wind effects, trumpet sounds, bass solo, and finally a daring interplay that sounds more like Dream Theater than reserved prog rock. (Click on link above to read the whole review...)
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