Sometimes, musicians try something like a solo career to express themselves in a better form. It happens because a band has strong constrains to a musical format that can be so strict that is hard for some artists to put all their musical ideas on it. This is the case of Demir Demirkan, a Turkish guitarist/vocalist/producer that played in Istanbul-based act PENTAGRAM (no, no links with North American band, please). On his first solo work, the EP "War 3 - Awakening", we can hear something really different, and good.

We could say that this album is a fine expression of modern Progressive Rock/Metal, without the psychedelic elements, showing a very good technical approach and being guided by an eclectic vision of music itself. It can go from the introspective melodic approach to aggressive Jazz parts, but always done with high class and elegance. Yes, it's truly good, something for those who need to rest their ears from the daily stressing reality.

Demir Demirkan and Phil Galdston (who has worked with names as Celine Dion, Sheryl Crowe, and Beyonce) worked on the production, and it was recorded and mixed by the hands of Kevin Killen (that has works with names as Peter Gabriel, David Bowie in his curriculum) in New York. So I don't have to say that the sound quality is really amazing, something clear and aggressive in both ways. I don't have a better way to express what the sound quality is with more words than that.

We can say that "War 3 - Awakening" is here to put many of your musical ideas on trial, because the eclectic vision used to guide this EP is not so easy to be understood. But as you become used to it, the modern and heavy feeling that permeates "Freedom", the tender and melodic atmosphere that fills "Hold On to the Innoncence" (a golden ballad that presents great and introspective moments), the heavier and experimental Progressive Metal approach of "Money is", the charming melodies of "I Conform", and the abrasive Prog Metal song called "Let It Burn" will make sense to you, and you'll get addicted. The EP version I have here has two bonus tracks, "Money is" and "Let It Burn" on their versions edited for radio.

Once more: "War 3 - Awakening" is hard to be understood, but the more you get used to its experimental vision, this EP will make you wish for a complete album from Demir Demirkan to come soon.