From the opening riff SECOND RELATION kick off this album "ABIONA" with a huge range of guitar action and interaction setting off with what sounds like an IRON MAIDEN sounding riff that then flows into a doodling showing their funk and jazz influences. The spectrum of color this album invokes is astounding.

The two guitars of Simon Gstöhl and Julian Nachbauer play off each other sometimes melding int one sound and then other times trading off licks and playing throw and fetch with energy that leaves you reeling. With the two guitarists' and a keyboard player these guys create a gigantic sound that flows over you in waves escalating and then subsiding.

Although this is predominantly progressive rock it has a metallic edge that will keep any Rock and Metal fan extremely happy. This band sure knows how to play their instruments and is well versed in many genres traversing many styles and taking you on an aural journey .This album is full of melodies that made me think of IRON MAIDEN and QUEENSRYCHE yet also brought to mind bands like DREAM THEATER all brought together in meandering passages of progressive inspired goodness.

Bastian Berchtold has a melancholic voice filled with soul telling stories of sadness and sorrow. This is a concept album based around the comings and goings of an inner city bar revolving around three characters the first being the bars singer and main attraction Abiona and then two other characters Stanley and Joseph. The story is told and woven around a waterfall of sound that settles into a relaxing pool leaving you calm and smiling with only your mind wandering.

For me the stand out tracks were Frightening "Silhouettes"," Motherlight" and "Window" and that was hard to narrow down to a few as the album is full of great moments of musical pleasure.<