Artist: Persona Non Grata
Title: Quantum Leap
Genre: Progressive Metal
Release Date: 9th December 2011
Label: Massacre Records
Album Review
PERSONA NON GRATA’s sophomore effort ‘Quantum Leap’ delivers another intriguing story of Progressive Metal. While still being very keyboard driven - still performed by the talented John Ioannidis - the music here does feature plenty of excellent guitar moments such as the opening riffs of ‘Lend Me A Hand’. Moments like these are highly melodic and also strongly enjoyable for those who feel they need a good hook to get them into the music. Sometimes the guitars tend to get a bit more complex and are well synched up with the drums such as on ‘9 AM News’ and don’t let the symphonic or electronic elements overtake everything, making the music very similar to that of groups like the famous DREAM THEATER. This is also one of the few tracks to feature incredibly decent vocal from Aris Pirris. Some critics have felt that he “tries too hard”, giving off more of that wavering, operatic Power Metal voice that some really find annoying. While he does throw a lot of effort into this sort of performance on a track like ‘Imaginative Mind’, on another track like ‘9 AM News’ he drops his voice a few octaves lower and it suits the whole Progressive Metal atmosphere much better, especially during the slower songs like ‘Grief’, which features more of a “classical piano” sound as opposed to the electronic synth feel from the keyboards. Also on slower tracks like these guitarist Chris Gatsos has a chance to really show off his skill with his solos.
For those seeking drum heavy tracks, ‘Diversity’ is an excellent choice with its chug focused rhythms and percussive direction from kinsman Akis Gavalas. ‘Journey Ends’ is a brief, but strong introduction to the final track with its sole instrumental features as the guitar charges in with the keyboard symphony backing it. Every once in a while the technical bits will surprise listeners here and there, but there is less cohesion between the instruments. The final track, oddly named ‘Journey’s End’, features perhaps the jazziest section between guitar, keyboard and bass that the band has ever written, while closing things out on an excellent mellow ambient backdrop that will surely not disappoint fans of Psychedelic Rock bands like PINK FLOYD. Overall, this is a large step up from the previous effort, and naysayers should be very pleased with the larger variety of skill that is provided by the musicians here. Fans of groups like SYMPHONY X or FATES WARNING will certainly find this enjoyable, along with a good mix of other Power Metal or Progressive Metal fans that like their music a bit mid paced, but always varied.
Tracklist
01. Imaginative Mind - 5:42
02. Lend Me A Hand - 5:13
03. Evil Feelings - 6:08
04. 9 AM News - 7:04
05. Redemption Of Sins - 5:50
06. Captive - 4:35
07. Grief - 5:30
08. Diversity - 5:40
09. Inertia - 4:54
10. Journey Ends - 1:31
11. Journey's End - 5:07
Line-up
Aris Pirris- Vocals
Akis Gavalas- Drums
Chris Vogiatzis- Bass
Chris Gatsos- Guitars
John Ioannidis- Keyboards
Website
http://www.personanongrata.info/
Cover Picture
Rating
Sound: 8
Music: 7
Total: 7.5 / 10
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