DARKOLOGY is a new band that is about to release the debut album entitled "Altered Reflections" through the new record label Rock-a-holics. This band from Dallas, Texas (US) has been around only for five years and now is ready to hit the stores. As the bio sheet says, DARKOLOGY is based on the works of the Harris brothers who came up with music and later on joined by Sundown who took over the singing duties. Well, Sundown is not an unknown voice to the Metal scene; he has been with OUTWORLD but was known to my ears through the impressive BEYOND TWILIGHT album Section X where he succeeded Jorn Lande behind the mic.

So, if you are familiar to BEYOND TWILIGHT then you should have probably guessed the musical whereabouts of "Altered Reflections" that is mainly Progressive Metal. Fortunately, for my peace of mind this is not the mainstream Progressive Metal album as defined by the latest DREAM THEATER works that are way too complicated and confusing for my humble taste in music. DARKOLOGY stick to the scene's prime days and hit with a Heavy Metal backbone enhanced by the Progressive finishing touches. In fact I could not help myself not to think the excellent musical trips I had while listening to the first two BEYOND TWILIGHT albums. Sundown really shines here unfolding his impressive vocal range that most of the times have Tim Ripper Owens' vocal aura especially during the heavier parts where the high pitched screams are asserted. The album opener is a fine blend of heaviness and melody with catchy guitar riffs that gradually reveal the Progressive lurking site and blossom during solo. The discreet keyboards arrangements on the back expand the band's sound and give the album a sci-fi feeling that yet again goes hand-in-hand with aforementioned prog profile. Just like "Dark Energy" does with the space keyboard intro followed by an almost ICED EARTH rhythm section (during Ripper's days) while the clean guitar sound make things even more interesting without over-complicated the song. Actually, this is what I like the most in DARKOLOGY; although the compositions are generally complicated they don't sound over-loaded and thus the listener does not lose focus and consequently his interest. "Eyes Of Argus" is also in my I like list mainly due to the galloping rhythm (another ICED EARTH reference) and the Eastern melodic break where Sundown lowers a little bit his pitch sounding even more evil until the promo 'voice over' spoils everything. When will the record labels understand that this is not the way to avoid 'piracy' but is just the way to bust the balls of every reviewer?

Leaving aside the latter rhetorical question, I have to admit that DARKOLOGY make a strong entry in the Metal scene with a very good album that hopefully will not be another firework in the night sky. This band seems to have strong potentials and add through the BEYOND TWILIGHT references can only go higher... Until then take a first taste from the band's debut video clip for "I Bleed".