progressive metal / symphonic metal
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Aah, The Dutch, is there any musical genre they can't put their mark on? True, they are responsible for some of the most horrifying schlagers in the world and their gabber-scene is pretty much the weirdest drugs-infused scene I've ever witnessed, but introduce them to analog instruments, dress them in metal shirts and they suddenly turn into brilliant and innovative musicians. The Dutch have a solid history in female fronted symphonic and progressive metal. Bands like The Gathering, Within Temptation, Delain, Epica, After Forever and Stream Of Passion are highly acclaimed acts in the metal scene, and it seems like a new star is looming.
Their band name is Synergy Protocol. They formed in 2013 in Utrecht. Their front woman, Laura Martinez, is gifted vocalist who can write some complex vocal lines, which fit well with the progressive and equally complex music, written by seasoned musicians. On the other hand, they can also write strong pop rock songs if they want to. 'Odd To Get Even' is their debut but judging from what I'm listening to at the moment, there must have been years of experience before Synergy Protocol eventually started.
The album contains eight songs, loaded with complex riffs, epic synths, brilliant build-ups and plenty of surprising elements (even including a few dance beats). The whole thing reminds me of something between Dream Theater, Thought Industry and Lacuna Coil. That being said, the progressive nature obviously results in pretty long songs with plenty of variation and often astonishing musical craftsmanship. My favorite track is 'Just A Man', which made me realize how ingenious this whole thing really is. The interplay of keyboards, drums and guitars is is often quite fascinating.
'Final Chaos' is another brilliant piece of music, perfectly combining intricate riffing with eighties hard rock. Doro came to mind on this one, which is not a bad reference at all. 'Puppet On A String' (not a cover) is probably the most radio-friendly, and poppy, song on this album. It got me tapping along with my feet (which makes writing this review harder since the keyboard is resting on my knees). The whole album actually pleasantly surprised me. I'm not really a fan of progressive metal but this simply is an excellent album, varied, immersive and catchy enough to remain interesting for the entire duration. So check it out, I'm sure you'll encounter these people very soon at a stage near you...
Their band name is Synergy Protocol. They formed in 2013 in Utrecht. Their front woman, Laura Martinez, is gifted vocalist who can write some complex vocal lines, which fit well with the progressive and equally complex music, written by seasoned musicians. On the other hand, they can also write strong pop rock songs if they want to. 'Odd To Get Even' is their debut but judging from what I'm listening to at the moment, there must have been years of experience before Synergy Protocol eventually started.
The album contains eight songs, loaded with complex riffs, epic synths, brilliant build-ups and plenty of surprising elements (even including a few dance beats). The whole thing reminds me of something between Dream Theater, Thought Industry and Lacuna Coil. That being said, the progressive nature obviously results in pretty long songs with plenty of variation and often astonishing musical craftsmanship. My favorite track is 'Just A Man', which made me realize how ingenious this whole thing really is. The interplay of keyboards, drums and guitars is is often quite fascinating.
'Final Chaos' is another brilliant piece of music, perfectly combining intricate riffing with eighties hard rock. Doro came to mind on this one, which is not a bad reference at all. 'Puppet On A String' (not a cover) is probably the most radio-friendly, and poppy, song on this album. It got me tapping along with my feet (which makes writing this review harder since the keyboard is resting on my knees). The whole album actually pleasantly surprised me. I'm not really a fan of progressive metal but this simply is an excellent album, varied, immersive and catchy enough to remain interesting for the entire duration. So check it out, I'm sure you'll encounter these people very soon at a stage near you...
