DARK SUNS emerged in 1997 from the dark, rich soil of Leipzig, Germany in the German federal state of Saxony (all hail SAXON!). This year they released their first EP since 1996, separated by five full-length albums, multiple lineup changes and a shift from Doom metal to Progressive metal. This latest effort, "Half Light Souvenirs," is an eclectic collection of five tracks roaming a wide range of musical variations. There are complex movements befitting their categorization into Prog, as well as much heavier moments which grant them the Metal moniker. There are also mellow segments that are more cephalopod than visceral, but still good.

It took me several listens to "Half Light Souvenirs" before I could digest it. Things like sporadic saxophones and interspersed piano interludes kept throwing me for a loop. Once I got past that-but to be honest, do you ever really get past saxophones in metal?-I appreciated some of the finer points. Maik Knappe's and Torsten Wenzel's guitar work, for instance, is very well developed and the two meld their styles faultlessly. Dominique Ehlert's jazz-like drumming is well suited for the constantly shifting time signatures; and even Ekkehard Meister's synth work takes on some harder edges ("Her Bed Unmade" and "Trillianthem") which recalls shades of DEEP PURPLE and DIO era RAINBOW. I guess that covers everyone except Tim Gressler (does anyone else catch a rhyme with GEEZER BUTLER there?). And, yes, Gressler is also very good at his craft, maintaining the erratic but smooth rhythm section with Ehlert.

Favorite tracks? Probably "Trillianthem," but not until about three minutes in and only for about thirty seconds and then again at the five minute, forty five second mark through to end of the song. In these scant moments the band just lets loose. Ehlert's drum work on this track is outstanding, and I love the times when Niko belts out, "Oh my lord!" "My Sermon" starts off promising but falters at about the two minute mark when it succumbs to engine failure and falls into a steady orbit of meh.

End analysis: "Half Light Souvenirs" by DARK SUNS is okay bordering on good. I think it's great that this band continues to innovate and evolve. For any given listener there is probably one or two of their albums or EPs that are perfect for them. "Half Light Souvenirs" is suited for Prog fans biased more towards rock than metal.