WATERSHAPE is an Italian Progressive band that have made huge step forward with their second full-length album "You Are Not". They were founded in 2014 by Francesco Tresca -  a drum teacher and composer who also enjoys progressive, rock, metal and fusion with his other bands ARTHEMIS, POWER QUEST, and HYPNOTHETICALL. With the help of bassist Mattia Cingano and guitarist Mirko Marchesini - both also in HYPNOTHETICALL - as well as Enrico Marchiotto on keys and Nicolo Cantele on vocals, they represent a powerhouse of Italian progressive metal. After 2 singles and a couple of video covers, the band released their first album "Perceptions" in 2018. The album - which reflects the idea that everyone will perceive the multitude of moods and styles on the album differently - received very good reviews upon its release. To support the album, they did several live shows throughout 2018 and 2019, supporting bands such as CLAUDIO SIMONETTI's GOBLIN and SECRET SPHERE.

WATERSHAPE play progressive music that straddles the line between the old 70s classic prog and the newer heavier progressive metal of the modern era. At one time they could be compared to KING CRIMSON, GENESIS, or GENTLE GIANT while other times the music is more contemporary, similar to DREAM THEATER, PAIN OF SALVATION, and PORCUPINE TREE. While 2018's "Perceptions" seems to lean more into a DREAM THEATER influence especially evident from the opener "Beyond the Line of Being", new album "You Are Not" seems to lean more into the back and forth nature of pre-2007 OPETH and wild vocals of PAIN OF SALVATION. They are definitely still leaning more into their prog-metal rather than prog-rock influences but adding in a healthy dose of jazz and even electronic music as well. It runs quite the gamut of emotions, time signatures, feels, etc making it seem like a "kitchen sink" type of album where a band will throw everything they have into an album in a desperate play to make them sound unique.

The question is, does it work? Does cramming a diversity of experiences into only a band's second album give WATERSHAPE an edge in the Italian progressive rock/metal scene? The short answer is no, but it's a damn fine effort and a sign of a band growing into their sound while also healthily experimenting to try and break the mold. Singer Nicolo Cantele, however, makes the band quite interesting reminding me a lot of Daniel Gildenlow's phrasing and wild, acrobatic melody writing. All this is plainly introduced in the enigmatic opening song "Enough" in which the song starts with plaintive piano melodies then dropping out, goes heavy, crunchy in which Cantele takes on a sinister Hyde-like tone and in the main part of the song, takes on a wholly other operatic, symphonic metal quality. He even introduces some scream effects later in the album. The guitar and keyboard playing interplay is tight and serves as a strong backbone to the varied time and tempo changes amply rooted by drummer Tesca, he clearly demonstrates that he can do more than teach music, he can do it! Unfortunately the rest of the tracks never reach the highs of "Enough" but "The Endless Journey" comes close, introducing more extreme vocals and electronic, poppy styles as well, providing for quit a juxtaposition. There are parts I love, like the amazing chorus of In The Garden Of Dreams And Grace" and there are parts I dislike with the hokey, over-top vocals on Mr. K. No reinventing the progressive wheel here, but a fairly solid sophomore album from a band that could be an up-and-comer in Italy and maybe beyond.