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II=I

a Studio Release
by: Andromeda
Release Year:
2002
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Added To Proggnosis on: 08 Dec 2002

Track Listing 

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIA
  2. MIRAGES
  3. REACHING DEEP WITHIN
  4. TWO IS ONE
  5. MORPHING INTO NOTHING ··
  6. CASTAWAY
  7. PARASITE
  8. ONE IS MY HEAD ···
  9. THIS FRAGILE SURFACE

Performer Credits  


DAVID FREMBERG
Vocals
JOHAN REINHOLDZ
Guitar, Bass
MARTIN HEDIN
Keyboards
THOMAS LEJON
Drums

Reviews


review by: MJBradyIn the world of Progressive Metal music, certain key factors set apart the good bands from the great ones, and there are very few bands playing progmetal in it's truest form. The most popular active bands in the genre are:
Dream Theater, Symphony X & Pain of Salvation, along with a handful of others that either new on the scene, or havn't made that one spectacular cd to propell them into the league of the bigger hitters in progressive metal.

Sweden no doubt has it's share of contenders for getting the deserved recognition in progmetal, along with Pain of Salvation, There are many other immensely talent rich bands that are in waiting. One is Andromeda, a band that surprised many with their debut cd called Extension of the Wish, the band went so far as to release that cd twice in the same year, with different singers on it, musically and lyrically it was the same cd, and each singers' performances got mixed reactions from fans. Yet either version showed a band that offered all the essential ingredients that define progmetals very essence. Which are: Technical Arrangements, powerful and aggressive musicianship, emotionally charged vocals, and intelligent lyricism.

Many, including myself, eagerly have awaited the follow up release to that impressive first cd, and I am pleased to say it has arrived. II = I not only confirmed my feelings for the bands potential, but has exceeded them many ways. The music has become more cohesive, while staying equally technical as EOTW, and the biggest change is the style of singer David Fremberg, whose voice at times sounds uncannily like Pain of Salvation's - Daniel Gildenlow. He uses a similar range of voices, and is equally emotional and versatile in his delivery, this may seem a bit borrowed to some, but with a singer that is able to change his voice so radically in the confines of one song, this is a nice problem to have.

There are a few songs that have a POS vibe to them, but Andromeda will quickly remind you that they have a lot of instrumental skills to display, and in this area they are interpreting more of the style associated with DreamTheater. In a strange way, that is how I would attempt to explaing the music on II = I, the meeting of two of progmetals bigger names in POS and DT, but with their own little twist on it.

I know that the many people who loved the bands first cd, may be a bit apprehensive based on this review at this point, but trust me, this is probably a better cd than you may have anticipated from them, it is a change, but you will here a band that has captured all the highlights from the first cd, and injected some newer personalities to their music. As for me? I have no problem placing this cd in the top 5 progmetal releases for 2002, and there have been many great ones this year to pick from that fall behind this one.

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