This Finnish band comes to demonstrate, with their second release, how contemporary instrumental symphonic progressive rock should sound like. And this is a statement!
Powerful, dynamic and extremely thoughtful, Valheista Kaunein is the prove that there is still a lot to harvest in the meadows of progressive rock. The freshness, brightness and folk tingled musicality that this band is showing is a cheerful experience for these ears. And while missing an usually essential instrument in progrock (the keys), the band has substituted that by the continuous use of Violin and even adding some flute passages. The musicality, though based in a symphonic and rock approach, has a folk attitude that brightens even more the final result.
Ok, so when the flute appears, Jethro Tull may be reminded, but the rest of the music may draw closer tangents to Solstice, Japanese KBB and Cinema, and maybe a heavier and much more powerful contemporary interpretation of Renaissance.
The album is all instrumental and divided in 9 tracks that swirl in contentment, positivism and optimism. The music is an up-mood-lifter that one should really experience.
This is a very good instrumental symphonic rock album that shows us a band in full throttle on its way to the spotlight. Another fine example of the numerous great progressive bands that are coming from the far corners of northern Europe.
