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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

(IZZ) - "The Darkened Room"

Reviewed by:

Erik Neuteboom

Progwalhalla.nl

Genre:
(Prog Rock)
Country:
US
Length:
51:23
Release Date:
11/17/09
Band Members: Tom Galgano / keyboards, vocals Paul Bremner / electric & acoustic guitars
  Brian Coralian / electronic & acoustic drums, percussion Greg DiMiceli / acoustic drums, percussion
  John Galgano / bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals Anmarie Byrnes / vocals
     
Track Listing: 1.)-Swallow Our Pride (5:16) 9.)- 23 Minutes Of Tragedy (7:00)
  2.)-Day Of Innocence (2:56) 10.)- Can't Feel The Earth, Part III (5:07)
  3.)-Regret -(4:32)  
  4.)- Can't Feel The Earth, Part I- (4:39)  
  5.)-Ticking Away- (2:47)  
  6.)-Can't Feel The Earth, Part II- (10:36)  
  7.)-Stumbling - (5:23)  
  8.)-The Message - (3:07)  

Review:

IZZ is an USA four piece formation that was founded in the second half of the Nineties, after their acclaimed debut CD entitled Sliver Of A Sun (1999) The Darkened Room is already their fifth studio-album, four years after their previous effort The River Flows. Before I received this album in order to review, I had only heard of their name (during an interview with Nemo, their bass player named IZZ as one of his favourite bands) and didn’t know anything of their music.***

From the very first moment I listened to the new album The Darkened Room I am very impressed about their music, how captivating, thrilling, emotional, compelling and especially original progressive rock music these skilled musicians have created! OK, it’s obvious that The Beatles, Genesis and Yes are a source of inspiration but these elements are very wonderfully blended with their own ideas and the many surprising twists and turns. In fact you can compare IZZ with fellow USA progrock band Spock’s Beard because of the blend of Seventies Prog and the evolution of an own sound. And that’s what we witness here, outstanding music that range from progressive pop (the catchy Ticking Away) to Classic Prog inspired music like the 76-77 Genesis-oriented 23 Minutes Of Tragedy featuring twanging acoustic guitars, bas pedals and a Hackett/Banks sound. But the inventive arrangements and many strong musical ideas turn this compsoition into something very special and exciting like spectacular synthesizer solo, howling guitar and emotional vocals. And so these elements do in the other tracks: an interlude with soaring Mellotron turns into a part with heavy guitar riffs and flashy synthesizer in Swallow Your Pride (great male vocals), in Day Of Innocence a mellow first part with twanging acoustic guitar and high pitched vocals shifts into a heavy conclusion with fat riffs, thunderous drums and fiery guitar, in Regret there’s a bass solo before a sumptuous final part and in Can’t Feel The Earth Part I a Grand piano is omnipresent along Brian May-like guitar, majestic choir-Mellotron and fat Minimoog and in the end a xylophone sound is beautifully blended with the other instruments. The highlights are the very compelling compositions Can’t Feel The Earth Part II en III, enjoy the 24-carat symphonic rock, loaded with exciting Mellotron and synthesizer solos, changing atmospheres and heavy guitar play, this is a Progwalhalla!

Check out this album, meanwhile I feel ashamed that this is my first musical experience with IZZ and I am going to discover the other albums, what a progrock sensation this USA band is!***

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars! [4 of 5 Stars!]

Erik Neuteboom

Progwalhalla.nl

 

 

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