lista zespołów Progressive Metal Uneven Vrzino Kolo

While reading their “Bio”, where this Serbian progressive band is mentioning the use of odd rhythms in their music, and stating Dream Theater as one of their main influences, I was prepared to be confronted with just another ‘over-technical’, ‘no-mistakes allowed’, and, finally, ‘boring’ piece of work. Fortunately this is not the case here. Their music, as presented in this demo, although obviously walking in more technical fields, incorporates the desired heaviness and straightforward Thrash (the Iced Earth way!) riffs that keep the ensemble of sounds ‘down to Earth’. Their other Muse besides Metal, comes from the areas of folk music, mainly Balkan. This isn’t done in some “Baltic (or else) Pagan Folk Black” way where the two kinds of music have distinctive roles, but, rather, they do it in the same way as Iron Maiden’s ‘Nomad’; the whole song to be based on folk rhythms (basic ones, so to be played by a Metal band). Probably their extensive coverage of their native folk songs has left its mark.
Another mark is left by the band’s name! The material in “Vrizno Kolo” is, indeed, ‘uneven’! There are parts here that are surprisingly good and force the listener to whistle the melodies after some ‘auditions’ of the album. This applies to most of the songs, especially when the guitars build themes and solos in twin-lead fashion or provide headbanging rhythms every now and then. Some choruses are, also, fun; examples being “Nights in the Club” and “USSR”. A fairly good production helps the outcome to sound strong and confident.
On the other hand, there were moments here that flirted with getting on my nerves. I guess, the mixing of too many elements together can ruin the final result. You can’t sound like a melodic Power-Metal band and a schizoid System of a Down-like nu band (listen to the tail-end parts of “USSR” and “Fire in the Hole”) together, in less than 4 minute-long songs! You’re then left with a product that resembles an Andy Warhol’s poster in the ruins of a Gothic chapel! Some people might like that, but I don’t! The vocal lines also, kind of, diminish quite often, the final result; which is a pity considering the enjoyable music that accompanies them. It’s not that the singer is bad, but the fusion doesn’t work out very well. An example to that is the s/t song “Uneven” where the childish repetitiveness of 20 words crosses the borders of tolerance.
All in all, it’s an interesting demo, with nice melodies and has definitely its moments. There are elements here that can, for sure, push the band further in their future compositions, but there are, also, aspects that need to be bettered in order to present a piece of work worthy of their potential.
15/20
PS. The lyrics to “Nights in the Club” is what Nikki Sixx would have written on his school desk!