When starting their career back in 2006, Poem might not have expected what would follow. Their debut album “The Great Secret Show” was released in 2009 and received (justifiably) excellent reviews and one-year after they opened for Ozzy Osbourne in Malakasa. And then there was silence. They took a long time to find the way due the departure of all their members, except the guitarist/singer George Prokopiou (who also sings in Mother Of Millions).
And finally, 7 years after their debut album, “Skein Syndrome” is a reality. First of all, don’t try to google this syndrome because it’s fictional. Maybe it’s a comment on how our society has become, because you can’t characterize their music as skein. From the opening track “Passive Observer” (check out the amazing video) it’s clear that there is a big difference between their debut album and this one. Not so heavy as before and more rock oriented,
Poem shows us that they are great musicians. They have many influences but they copy no one. There isn’t a single filler song because each one will give you something different. For example, listen to “Bound Insanity” and “Desire” and you’ll know what I mean. The band’s members do their best in this album, from the rhythm section of Stratos Chaidos (bass) and Stavros Rigos (drums) to the amazing guitar work of George Prokopiou and Laurence Zervas Bergstrom who play beautiful and atmospheric melodies. Also, George’s vocals are terrific giving us memorable moments like in “The End Justifies The Means” and “Weakness”. Last but not least, Poem are touring Europe for the first time alongside Amorphis and Textures in which they will play a total of 38 shows. Congratulations guys, I wish you even better.
Poem show us once more that there is a lot of talent in Greece’s progressive bands (and not only). Need, Persona Non Grata, Psycrence, Until Rain are some of them and the list goes on and on. If they play live somewhere near you, don’t you dare miss them.
For the fans of: Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Need
