We could state, to make things easier to understand, that what we usually call Progressive Metal is the fusion of the weight and distortion of traditional Heavy Metal with technical aesthetics of Progressive Rock. Inside this universe you can have many ways of making music, from those bands that prefers a more Heavy Metal orientated approach (like FATES WARNING, SYMPHONY X and QUEENSRYCHE), some with a more Progressive Rock vision, and those who use a great set of other musical elements to create their music (in this kind, you can set DREAM THEATER). So, you can have an ample range of musical works on Progressive Metal. But what about the North American quintet DESERT DRAGON and their album "Before the Storm?"

Well, they're into Progressive Metal with good amount of weight, a sober musical technique, and some Hard Rock influences that make their music have an accessible touch, to reach a broader part of the public. So, they're in the group of those who prefer a heavier insight of their music, and not using an eclectic or more Progressive Rock orientation. Indeed, they are good, really good. The sound quality is excellent, clear as their music needs, but keeping that distorted power that a band of this musical must have. So, there aren't complains about it, because the producer took gentle care, including in the choice of instrumental tunes.

The songs are good, but personally, what's the reason to open an album with an instrumental song ("Desert Dragon") and the putting a power ballad ("Save My World") just before it? You must choose wisely the sequence of the songs of an album, because the beginning of it is a crucial moment, where you can win or lose fans. Leaving that aside, "Desert Horizons" with its perfect marriage of musical elegance, weight and excellent chorus (with some good moments from the vocals, that evades that boring and disgusting extremely high vocal tunes), the climatic and tender weight of "We the People" (this song has a strong dose of musical accessibility, but keeping the Progressive elements, especially due the clean moments of guitars,) "Take It Easy Now" with its Hard Rock/Bluesy feeling (with the wise use of harmonica, and a powerful rhythmic kitchen with very good tempos), the totally accessible ones "Flying High" (this one has a strong influence from Hard Rock/AOR, with very good chorus and vocals) and "Slow Groove" (this one with a more Hard Rock essence, with very good guitar solos), and the Groove/Blues/Progressive scent of "My Sunshine" are the album's best moments, and a proof that they can do better than this album.