From Bandcamp, "HEKZ are delighted to be raising the bar for Progressive Metal with the announcement of "Qisma," their fifth studio album, set to redefine what's possible in the genre. Qisma is an evocative Arabic word meaning fate, destiny or divine will - captures HEKZ at their most fearless and inventive.  Visionary bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Matt Young has created what he calls his "boldest artistic statement to date", an album designed to captivate prog devotees and welcome newcomers alike into HEKZ's richly textured sonic landscape. Presented as a double album, "Qisma" features guest contributions from prog rock royalty. "The Gates of Kybagrad" is first; a short mood-setter. The mood is tense, and anxious, and you wait to hear what might be coming next.

The title track. It charges the gate with energy and purpose, and you can hear violin notes. Falling somewhere between the spectrums of Power Metal and Progressive Metal and Rock, you can heard both styles alive in the music. The old school keyboards sound however keeps it rooted in the 70's. "The Future is Here" is a bit darker and slower, and also has a funky groove. It borders just a bit on the side of cheese with the orchestral elements, but it's honest…I think. "Captured" is another cloudy and dark sound, where the band uses the vocals to carry much of the emotions. Gentle, and even tender, it scrapes the surface of what the genre has to offer.  "Venom" is firmer, and darker still, and you can hear some Middle Eastern influences in the music. The vocals rise high above the music, but they are also not quite connected with their key. This is one feature I find instantly dissonant, and the music is supposed to be more linear. The heart of the album is in the two massive tracks.

"The Great Out There" is first, clocking in at just under 24 minutes. This gives the song plenty of development time. Along the ride, they introduce a lot of different elements…some jovial, some darker, but each has a part to tell in the tale. With this level of length, you have to figure it would be easy for the band to get lost, but they seem to have no trouble re-finding their footing. "Break the Spell" has that heavy assault that I was waiting for, and it proves the band isn't hear to play. The riffs are crunchy, rough, and meaty bass notes accompany the sound. "Overlord" is another 20-something minute song. Call them ambitious for these lengthy offerings, but the songs never seem to land anywhere in particular. It's firmer, and hastier, and again the bassist is one of the driving forces behind the sound. The vocals rise and fall with the music, lashing out at times, and retreating at others. There are also some well-placed crescendos along the way.

"Leap of Faith" is the final song, and the picture becomes clear at the end. It might be a euphemism for the album in many ways. Throw caution to the wind, and just follow your heart. This was a carefully constructed album that overstayed its welcome just a little. This long time Progressive Rock fan found it hard to digest at times. It wasn't the band's musicianship, or the passion they put into each song, it was just an overly-circuitous path, and the length caused some of the sound to meander. It's worth checking out, and drawing your own conclusions, that's for sure. For me, it could have used a bit of shaving down.