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ALAS
by: Jonathan Mariante |
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Alas, we have here, another progressive rock band, similar to Dream Theatre. What have these guys got that separates them from all the other bands of this ilk? Well, for one thing, the fact that they're not all guys! Their singer is a woman, something not too common in prog rock, or hard rock/metal at all, for the matter. Her name is Martina Hornbacher Astner, and she is quite a good singer. Her voice is smooth and operatic, and she sounds like she's influenced by Celtic-style folk singers, like Loreena McKennitt. She sounds mournful in many of the songs, and some of them are about mournful subjects, such as "Silencing The Sorrow", "Loss Of A Life", and "Tragedies". Like McKennitt and other Celtic-style singers, Martina's voice possesses a haunting beauty. As for the rest of the group, as they are a prog band, the comparisons to Dream Theatre and Rush are obvious. Guitarists/keyboard player Erik Rutan is very influenced by Alex Lifeston and both DT guitarists, and his keyboard playing is similar in style to both aforementioned bands. Drummer Howard Davis takes much of his influence from Neil Peart, and also uses some double bass playing. As influenced by Rush, DT, etc. as Alas are, they are certainly not copycats. They have a sound that, while recognizable as progressive rock, is certainly their own. They are original and talented enough to stand alone, due in a large part to Martina's singing style. The only problem is that all their songs are played rather slow. I know prog rock isn't supposed to be played at lightning speed, but it still wouldn't hurt to push down on the gas pedal a tad, at least for a few songs. Gives it a little more zing, y'know? All in all, these guys and girl are a good band. They just need to put a faster song or two on the next album, and they'll be all set.
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