RUSSIAN ROCK

Infront “Inescapable” 2011

“Inescapable is Infront’s second full length album, with some six years having elapsed since their debut album. We all know a lot can happen in six years, for better or for worse. Six years is a long time between albums considering a band needs to maintain its fanbase. On the otherhand six years also a lengthy period where you can utilize your creativity to the highest level. Back in 2005 DPRP reviewer Mark Hughes reviewed for Infront’s first album and was pleasantly surprised by that album. Full of instrumental tracks, appropriately entitled Wordless. For Inescapable the band have once again composed a series of instrumental tunes.

Almost all band members now get mentioned by their full name with one exception. We now know that Igor Uporov and Dmitry Chernishev play guitars, Alexander Meshcheryakov handles bass and keyboards and K. Shtirlitz plays drums. Difficult names for us here in western world. Unpronounceable even.

In a musical sense Infront are far from difficult to get into as the music grabs you easily and is built very well. From the first, to the last second of the album is enjoyable and here and there are some very familiar melody lines. Categorized as “heavy prog”, I initially thought I was in for a treat in the vein of Planet X or Relocator. But this is not the case and Infront’s music is more of experimental nature, leaning towards instrumental Gentle Giant or King Crimson. Whereas the music of the aforementioned bands sometimes is very complex and experimental, even after numerous listens, incomprehensible, Infront remain more accessible whilst retaining their own highly distinctive sound.

Tuning in to Inescapable means you are stuck, bound to your chair or wherever you are, obliged to listen until the album is over. There’s a lot going on in the music which keeps it very exciting.

When the almost classical sounding Intro is finished track two starts in a very mellow sounding Porcupine Tree or Riverside fashion. But don’t get comfortable as they make sure you do not just sit back and listen, as after a short time the music changes a more jazz/fusion style of playing with yet another twist right behind – going heavier.

Infront have a habit of dividing songs into parts, adopting different playing styles as they go along. They also add humour into their pieces, take the ending of Postcard Notice – sounding as if side one of your record has just finished and you’re listening to vinyl stopping – in need of changing to side two.

Tracks 4-5 are by far the heaviest of the entire album in good old fashioned heavy prog sound. Starting with a drone sound and then going out with a more Latin Santana like sound. We are thrown from one side of the musical scale to the other. I’m also assuming RUNNN 3 is a follow up to the song of the same name on album number one, although I must admit I have not heard that one.

In their last trio of tracks Jokes Aside, Infront make sure we will not forget them and their musicality. These three parts are full of twists, hooks, tempo changes, style changes and humour. You name it, it is there. Fun but also coherent that are well crafted and performed. A fantastic voyage into the Inescapable music of Infront, they are highly recommended. ”
(C) GERT HULSHOF www.dprp.net

Download Infront “Inescapable” 2011 (76.95 MB from depositfiles)

Tags: progressive

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 All