Given this band's name and the title of its second full-length studio album, I expected Malpractice to be some second-rate death-metal band with brutal songs about abortion and necrophilia. But, lo and behold, these Finns actually play melodic, chunky and unlikely progressive metal that melds the more commercial components of Dream Theater and King's X into a sound that should have widespread appeal to all kinds of metal fans. Best of all, they sound nothing like their Finnish headbanging compatriots Stratovarius, Thunderstone or Nightwish.
After surviving several lineup changes and recording a multitude of demos since 1994, Malpractice appears to have finally settled into some semblance of normalcy, and that can be heard in this music. The robust opener "Assembly Line," the serrated edge of "Colours In Between," the imminently compelling "Expedition" and the dramatic finale "Fragile Pages" showcase a tight, confident and seasoned band with smart guys who seem to feed off of each other's playing. Even a song blasting the music biz ("The Industry") comes off sounding wise instead of whiny. There's not a dud among Deviation from the Flow's eight tracks, which strategically range in length from about five minutes to no more than 10 minutes, and the album's title holds more than an inkling of truth: This is not your typical European progressive-metal band …
Track Listing:
1) Assembly Line
2) Colours In Between
3) The Industry
4) The Long Run
5) Divided
6) Expedition
7) Circles in the Sand
8) Fragile Pages
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