Now on their 5th studio release, US progressive rockers Presto Ballet seemingly have to be taken a tad more seriously than just a side project for Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof. Relic of the Modern World once again sees the band doing a fantastic job harnessing the sounds of the some of the great melodic prog bands of the '70s, including Kansas, Styx, Yes, Gentle Giant, and Rush, but thanks to Vanderhoof's love for heavy music there are also some Deep Purple and Uriah Heep elements here as well. This time around the line-up along with Vanderhoof is vocalist Chuck Campbell, bassist Bobby Ferkovich, keyboard player Kerry Schacklett, and drummer Larry Crowe.
Made up of four normal length songs and the epic 20 minute title track, this latest release makes no bones about its intentions. The shorter pieces contain lots of catchy melodies, chunky guitar, and a wide assortment of vintage analog keyboard sounds.. Both Vanderhoof & Schacklett lend their talents on various synths, Mellotron, Hammond organ, and piano, giving tunes like "The Chemical Age" and "Broken Toys" that classic feel, but the overall vibe is fresh and modern. Gotta love the little piano intro piece "Prelude to Farewell", which reminds of Rick Wakeman & Chick Corea, before the band blasts in with the ultra cool 8 part "Relic of the Modern World". This epic track takes the listener on a wild journey, complete with Vanderhoof's beefy riffs and loads of excellent keyboard passages, with Campbell's vocals soaring over the top and Ferkovich & Crowe really laying down some intricate grooves. On more than a few occasions I was thinking this was a long lost track from Farewell to Kings or Hemispheres by Rush, but then Presto Ballet changes gears and hits you with some Yes, Kansas, Genesis, and Styx elements to throw you for an even bigger loop. It's majestic, fun, and adventurous all at the same time.
Kurdt Vanderhoof has stated on many occasions that he would like to do more with Presto Ballet, and judging by the popular feedback this band has gotten from the prog-rock faithful over the years there seems to be a good many people who would love to see it. Metal Church might well be his bread and butter so to speak, but with five high quality releases under their belt, this band needs to take that next step into the spotlight and get the full exposure they so deserve.
Track Listing
1) The Chemical Age
2) Watching the Radio
3) Broken Toys
4) Prelude to Farewell
5) Relic of the Modern World
I-Questions Overture
II-The Decision
III-The DIsconnect
IV-A New Life
V-Strange Changes
VI-Fading
VII-At Peace
VIII-A Grand Farewell
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