Polish progressive metal act Retrospective are back with their fourth studio release, Re:Search, out now on Progressive Promotion Records. Taking a more song-based approach that focuses on strong melodies and tight ensemble playing, the band are easy to recommend to those who like the stylings of Riverside, Porcupine Tree, Pain of Salvation, and Tool. The guitar riffs are lean & mean on the menacing "The End of the World", a real highlight of dark progressive metal with hooks, while lighter fare such as "Roller Coaster" (featuring great dueling female & male vocals), "Rest Another Time", and "Look in the Mirror" feature less muscular arrangements that rely more on textures and colors than bombast, but still contain memorable melodies and alluring vocal passages. There's a towering presence of both Riverside and Pain of Salvation on the hard hitting "Last Breath", mixed with some intricate guitar & bass interplay that wouldn't sound out of place on a Tool or King Crimson album. Of course, the longest song on the album is saved for last, here in the form of the brooding "The Wisest Man" on earth, a dark, menacing, boiling & bubbling stew of turbulent prog and metal, the guitars of Maciej Klimek & Alan Szczepaniak weaving circles around the gymnastic bass of Łukasz Marszałek and dynamic drumming courtesy of Robert Kusik while Beata Łagoda's keys drift along in the background. It's also another terrific vocal performance from Jakub Roszak, who has a powerful voice and really suits this music quite well. Expect a hint of his Polish accent, but it doesn't get in the way one bit.
Re:Search is another strong effort from Retrospective, a band that is quickly gaining momentum on the progressive metal scene and worthy of your immediate attention.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
01. Rest Another Time
02. Right Way
03. The End Of Their World
04. Roller Coaster
05. Heaven Is Here
06. Look In The Mirror
07. Last Breath
08. Standby
09. The Wisest Man On Earth
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