A new generation of Progressive Metal has begun - and it's not your father's generation of bands such as FATES WARNING or DREAM THEATER who prefer technical flourishes or tight, neo-classical syncopation runs. Younger musicians choose to incorporate the time-signature modulation of progressive rock and metal, but use current post-rock atmosphere and de-tuned riffs of djent made popular by PERIPHERY and MESHUGGAH in creating their own paint brush strokes. Welcome to the world of Washington, D.C. quintet WINGS DENIED on this debut album "Mirrors for a Prince".

The rhythm sections within these 10 songs feature lower, darker tones and grooves designed for hypnotic, alluring body convulsions, evident right from the first minute of opener "Generation Y". Vocalist Luka Kerecin sets up the words through a series of unique ranges, some very scream oriented while others comfortable in a post-rock meets melodic modern metal manner, as FAIR TO MIDLAND and the DEFTONES come up for comparison's sake.

Overall the music does have blazing off-kilter sections that leave the brain and ears mesmerized- check out the harmonic-laden "Maiden" and RUSH meets djent fusion "The End of History"- and yet WINGS DENIED never stray off course to keep their material filled with hooks and parts that help the listener retain what's heard, a rarity in this genre. Guitarists Zach Dresher and Jackson Smith have the flashy lead breaks and point/ counterpoint rhythmic spaces down pat, but also know when to be soft and understated to build up the emotional elements in the moodier "Courtesan" and the epic "Six Years and a Day" - the latter an 11 minute plus masterpiece that contains as much of a tribal feel as it does a mysteriousness, bouncing back and forth between introspection and aggression.

Recording this effort through the renowned producer/ engineer Jamie King of BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME/ THE HUMAN ABSTRACT fame, there's little doubt to the band's professional output on all fronts. This is heavy, occasionally jazzy, definitely forward thinking for the time, and an act that would probably bring the roof down in a live environment. Some of the dual harmonies taken on during the 6:34-7:10 instrumental section of the aforementioned "Six Years and a Day" rival the best Dave Murray/ Adrian Smith passages of 1980's IRON MAIDEN - only slower, focused, and building tension that has you on the edge of your seat.

WINGS DENIED has a healthy future ahead of them, as this album will be one for the ages. Progressive metal that takes into account decades of perspective, "Mirrors for a Prince" doesn't disappoint.