This is the first time I listen to a German progressive metal band. Usually, I listen to German bands that sound like “Blind Guardian”, “Helloween”, “Accept”, etc.
So, Tangent Plane is the first progressive metal band that came to my ears from Germany (with the Greek Kostas Kontos on bass) and I confess that they did not make a good impression.
“Project Elimini” is the first part of the trilogy that will be released from the Germans and their second album overall. In this first part of the trilogy the band gives me the impression that they are trying too hard.
For example, the keyboards have a large share of the sound of the band. They have given so much attention to the sound of the keyboards and sometimes things that I would rather like to hear from the guitar I get them from the keyboards. The production does not give specific volume to the sound, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as it gives the album a darker essence.
And now it’s time for the big disadvantage of the band: The singer “Jan Michaelis” is mediocre to say the least. The band’s sound is such that if the singer is at least tolerable, it spoils the work of the band. A track that can stand out as simply good is “Borrow Me Your Dullness”. The rest of the songs are not bad but the combination of the vocals and the compositions did not win me over.
Let’s wait and see if the second and third part of the trilogy changes my first impression of the band.
P.S. Great album cover. It gives me a post apocalyptic future feeling.
