TRACK LIST:
1. The Custodians 6:40
2. King of Tales 4:37
3. Farewell 9:35
4. Interception 6:04
5. Waiting for the Storm 6:25
6. Beyond the Line 6:10
7. Losing Ground 6:55
8. On a Distant Shore 5:12
9. Kazakhstan 7:00
LINE UP:
Michael Keuter - vocals
Hans Strenge - bass
Jan Keimer - drums
Heiko Holler - guitars
Bjorn Tiemann - keyboards
Prolusion.
German band Ricochet have a history that goes all the way back to the early 1990's, and released their debut album all the way back in 1996 actually. They probably made the highest impact with their second album "Zarah - A Teartown Story" however, which was also one of the earlier albums I reviewed at the very start of my history as a music reviewer. Following this the band appears to have had a bit of a hiatus, at least as a recording band, and I never came across their third album "Pieces of the Ricochet" when it appeared in 2020. Now Ricochet are ready with their fourth studio album "Kazakhstan", which was released through German label Timezone Records in the spring of 2023.
Analysis.
I recall Ricochet as being a progressive metal band back in 2005, and they stick to this style of music also 18 years later in 2023. This is classic era progressive metal, with a sound, mood and style that just as easily could have been made back in the 1990's as in 2023. This is a band that have some experience in these landscapes of course, and they use that experience for what it's worth to create compelling material on this new album.
The majority of the songs here can probably be described as accessible in nature. We get a number of classic guitar and keyboard constellations throughout this production, from the classic floating keyboard and guitar combination to the equally compelling guitar riff and organ combination, with a little bit of Mellotron slipping in now and then. We have songs that use start and stop motions to build tension, we have galloping escapades that provide energy and momentum and careful use of exotic sounding tones and timbres to create those subtly mystic sounding moods and atmospheres that many of us never will tire of encountering.
In between solid creations that may feature details recognizable by fans of bands like Dream Theater, Queensryche and even Iron Maiden we also get a few cuts with a bit more of a power ballad feel to them, while a track like 'King of Tales' comes with at least a couple of nods in the direction of Deep Purple.
Personally I find the concluding song on this album, title track 'Kazakhstan', to be the most charming one. Solid riffs, some exotic sounds and a darker and borderline ominous undercurrent all combine to create a suitably enthralling landscape here. On a personal note I also believe that one of the core recurring riffs here comes with a charming little bit of similarity to a song from a very different field, namely Pop Will Eat Itself's song 'Auslander' from a few decades back. While this is a similarity that is bound to be accidental, it is one of those small details that does give me a smile on my face.
Conclusion.
From what I can recall, I rather enjoyed Ricochet the last time that I experienced their music, even if my skill in describing just that probably is debatable. I find this latest album to be an enjoyable experience too, a solid and compelling example of accessible old school progressive metal, to be enjoyed by those who enjoy the more accessible sides of early days Dream Theater and bands of a similar style, sound and stature.
Progmessor: April 2023
The Rating Room
