Kinetic Element
Travelog
Melodic Revolution Records
2015
First of all, to save you from all trouble, if you’re not a classic prog rock fan (mostly of the 70s), and you do not fancy acts like ELP, Yes, Genesis, Asia (not their “mainstream” stuff) and the like, then you should better check out another album review.
Having said that, I should also say that Kinetic Element exist for about a decade, since they were formed by the composer & keyboardist Mike Visaggio in 2006. The other guy who accompany Mike since the beginning are Todd Russell on guitars & Michael Murray on drums. Recently after the departure of their original bass-player, Mark Tupko stepped in and became their fourth member.
“Travelog” is the sophomore release of the band, about 6 years after their debut “Powered by Light”. The new album is kinda more symphonic prog with various jazz/fusion elements here and there. The melodies are still there and apart from the albums of our time, the musicianship plays the first role here… and it does shine! Every little music theme showcases how skilled and smart all the musicians are. This time the vocals were not handled by Mike. Instead Dimetrius LaFavors (Odin’s Court) sings “War Song”, “Travelog” & “Vision of a New Dawn”, Mike Florio sings on “Her” and Michelle Schrotz (Brave, While Heaven Wept) sings on “Into the Lair”.
The album was recorded at the band’s Cavernous Garage studio in Richmond VA, with Michael Murray performing engineer duties. The mxing &mastering took place at Sound Resources studio in Chattanooga TN, by Fred Schendel and Steve Babb (both member of Glass Hammer). The production, is smooth, full and clear. It does not sound “retro” but quite fresh and contemporary.
I guess almost 70 minutes of “good old 70s” prog rock music won’t leave any prog freak unsatisfied. And these are the ones that are gonna revel in this album the most. In truth to be told the instrumental parts of “Travelog” are magnificent on their majority… and that’s the strongest point of this album, as I said earlier. The vocals are very good too (how couldn’t they be so?!), but let’s be honest, on such prog rock releases the musicianship is the one that steals the show. “Travelog” ain’t an easy album to “digest’, it needs time and repeated listens, do keep in mind before you proceed. If you consider yourself to be a “prog freak”, who still bask in symphonic prog rock music from the 70s, then think no further, “Travelog” will surely make your day!
Having said that, I should also say that Kinetic Element exist for about a decade, since they were formed by the composer & keyboardist Mike Visaggio in 2006. The other guy who accompany Mike since the beginning are Todd Russell on guitars & Michael Murray on drums. Recently after the departure of their original bass-player, Mark Tupko stepped in and became their fourth member.
“Travelog” is the sophomore release of the band, about 6 years after their debut “Powered by Light”. The new album is kinda more symphonic prog with various jazz/fusion elements here and there. The melodies are still there and apart from the albums of our time, the musicianship plays the first role here… and it does shine! Every little music theme showcases how skilled and smart all the musicians are. This time the vocals were not handled by Mike. Instead Dimetrius LaFavors (Odin’s Court) sings “War Song”, “Travelog” & “Vision of a New Dawn”, Mike Florio sings on “Her” and Michelle Schrotz (Brave, While Heaven Wept) sings on “Into the Lair”.
The album was recorded at the band’s Cavernous Garage studio in Richmond VA, with Michael Murray performing engineer duties. The mxing &mastering took place at Sound Resources studio in Chattanooga TN, by Fred Schendel and Steve Babb (both member of Glass Hammer). The production, is smooth, full and clear. It does not sound “retro” but quite fresh and contemporary.
I guess almost 70 minutes of “good old 70s” prog rock music won’t leave any prog freak unsatisfied. And these are the ones that are gonna revel in this album the most. In truth to be told the instrumental parts of “Travelog” are magnificent on their majority… and that’s the strongest point of this album, as I said earlier. The vocals are very good too (how couldn’t they be so?!), but let’s be honest, on such prog rock releases the musicianship is the one that steals the show. “Travelog” ain’t an easy album to “digest’, it needs time and repeated listens, do keep in mind before you proceed. If you consider yourself to be a “prog freak”, who still bask in symphonic prog rock music from the 70s, then think no further, “Travelog” will surely make your day!