From "Down Under" in Brisbane, Australia, comes this Progressive/Alternative Rock/Metal quintet CALIGULA's HORSE. Formed in 2011, the band presents their fourth long-play here titled "In Contact," which contains ten new tracks. Progressive music has long been a staple in the genre of Rock and Metal, and has given fans a wide variety of styles to enjoy within. It's surely one of the genres that have expanded since the early days of RUSH, YES, and PINK FLOYD, while many bands still use those influences on their modern sound. Not being too familiar with this band, I eagerly jump into the songs to discover for myself.

"Dream the Dead" opens with some stunning lead guitar work, and settles into an airy sound with light emotional peaks in the vocals. The chorus is full on the distorted guitars provide heavy accents along the ride. The final three minutes give a beautiful ambiance that seems lift the notes off the page and straight into your soul. It's a very pretty song that is rich with character and progressive leanings. "Will's Song (Let the Colours Run)" is considerably shorter and a bit faster right out of the gate. Some punchy rhythms reflect a trained and practiced sense of songwriting, where the instruments work with one another rather than against. The symbiosis that results is noteworthy. "The Hands are the Hardest" opens with some piano note that quickly morph to guitar chords with the same melody. The lead guitar notes dance as a supporting partner with the emotive vocals and the elegant sound is just sublime. When you listen to this, you can't help but be moved as well as reminded that this is exactly what is missing in popular music these days...spirit and conscience.

"Songs for No One" is close to eight minutes in length. The instruments provide a harder edge here while the vocals float above in a dreamy sequence. Again, I marvel at the natural connections of melody likes that seem to come so easy, yet are complex and provoking. "Fill My Heart" is one of those songs that scratches your itch for something that is heavy but also awakens the passion for beauty that drives us all to connect with one another; a shared purpose of existence that is lost on so many. The three shorter tracks are strings that connect some of the longer songs with a softer message, save for the vocal tirade of "Intertia and the Weapon of the Wall," which is a poetic social commentary that gives you pause to consider so many things. "The Cannon's Mouth" has a tough and ripe rhythm that Djents for brief moments as it pummels under the skies of bright melodies that are far reaching.

No less that a fifteen-minute opus would do to close out this wonderful album. "Graves" is a song that takes you on an odyssey of exploration off the beaten path but is familiar at the same time. The melodies and harmonies are absolutely alluring, and the combination of Progressive dexterity and poignant, captivating passages warm your heart and make you feel alive. Chocked full of gorgeous melodies, and no less of sheer instrumental prowess, you won't find a "filler" track on this mosaic of musically transcending journeys. Each track tells a separate story in the journey, and a separate feeling that lingers with you long after it has been played. They write music with the gleeful hooks of any pop-sensible band but when you peel back the layers, there is so much more there than just accessible songs with a heavy periphery. Intelligent, sophisticated, and so joyful to listen to, it's a contender for "Album of the Year" for sure.