The Canadian beast known as Spaced Out are back with their fifth studio release of instrumental progressive fusion, titled Evolution. Whether they are 'evolving' or not remains to be seen, but once again the band delivers the goods, this platter containing nine tracks of red-hot fusion with just enough prog & metal to add to the fun factor. Opening cut "Biomechanic" is a dark, heavy progressive metal monster, almost something you would expect to come out of the Dream Theater camp, heavy riffs and beefy rhythms jumping out all over the place, which segues into the up-tempo "Fun Key", a busy number littered with wild guitar excursions, tricky drum work, synths, and the always impressive bass lines of Antoine Fafard. The band ups the funk quotient on "Power Struggle" (Chick Corea Elektric Band fans will love this one!), a complex piece with lots of time changes and deep grooves, while "Nemesis" sees Fafard and his partner on the drums, Martin Maheux, putting on a real clinic, guest Alex Argento injecting a scorching synth solo amidst all the wild rhythms. It's pure prog-metal on the crunchy "Biomechanic II", Mark Trembley's huge riffs playing off Fafard's nimble lead bass runs, and the bassist again wows on the manic "Furax II", another heavy piece with metal riffs and intricate rhythms. The band ventures into avant-garde jazz on "Replication Junction", and closes out the CD with the near 15-minute epic "Polymorph", a grinding, oozing, miasma of complex sounds and textures that shows all the players in fine form and really reaching out into unchartered waters. Trembley especially delivers an amazing solo on this one, his technique and tone really spot on, and Maheux also wows with a killer solo as well, showing his dexterity behind the kit.
There you have it, another winner from Spaced Out that once again proves why they are one of the best instrumental outfits going today in the world of progressive rock.
Track Listing
01 - Biomechanic
02 - Fun Key
03 - Power Struggle
04 - Octavium
05 - Nemesis
06 - Biomechanic II
07 - Furax II
08 - Replication Junction
09 - Polymorph
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