HighProject: Beyond the Veil, people stand silent. Trusted and in their prime.

HighProject is a band from Västerås, Sweden, formed back in 2010 and finally releasing their debut album, which we will refer to Beyond the Veil due to its unnecessary long title, late in 2022, featuring a total of five original songs and a cover. The band is comprised by veteran musicians Anders Altzarfeldt on Hammond and keyboards, Bjarne Forsbom on guitars, Stefan Andersson on bass, Mikael Grönroos on drums and percussion, and promising younger artist Robert Johansson Lind on vocals and acoustic guitars. There is also a guest appearance by Loa Pingani on background vocals.

This a heavy rock album, with an unmistaken 70’s influence, hints of classic progressive rock, but with modern sound values and the limits of a self-produced record. Early Rainbow, Perfect Strangers era Purple, modern Uriah Heep, a lot of Hammond organ and tons of tasty guitar licks, and a vocalist that resembles a cross between Ian Gillan and Eirik Hanssen (Magic Pie)… that’s how I would describe this band at first listen… then additional layers start to show themselves with further playing, like the acoustic guitar arrangements, the more modern keyboards intrusion, some minimalistic percussion snippets, and the theatrical backing vocals, all ingredients that help separate their sound from being just another pastiche. With no evident virtuosity coming from the musicians, the songs are very well crafted and executed… perhaps the drums could’ve been heavier and less “by the book�, but the result is quite pleasant and enjoyable.

The opener “1000 People� and subsequent songs “Trust in Me� and “Prime Time� are all good songs, not necessarily great and sometimes too similar to those 70’s heavy rock classics from the previously mentioned rock acts, but good enough to catch the listener’s attention, however I think the Camel rendition wasn’t a good decision, a cover so faithful to the real thing that it only raises more questions about the band’s originality. “Silent Treatment� has a different approach than the previous songs, with a tasteful and memorable musical exchange between guitars and keys, is very bluesy but not sad, presenting the warmer side of Lind’s vocals and the smart transitions the band is able to perform in a short period of time… far from being the best it is perhaps the more original sounding song from the album, as it happens with the closer song “Veil� as well, they sound less seventyish, less copycat, hopefully showcasing what the future of the band will sound like, a future I’m definitely looking forward to. Cheers

Track list:
1. 1000 People (8:46)
2. Trust in Me (9:36)
3. Prime Time (6:16)
4. Rhayader goes to Town (5:42)
5. Silent Treatment (6:56)
6. Veil (7:48)

Added: June 26th 2023
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 470
Language: english

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