For fans of Progressive Rock who prefer it more on the Metal side.

Italian Progressive Metal band Other View are quietly building a reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Swirling keyboards can be found prominently throughout – check out opener 'Vantage' for a throwback sound that first gained traction in the seventies – and yet, the heaviness and riff-mongering balances the album out as a whole, as can be found on the complex 'The Burgundy Book' or the Classic Metal-influenced 'Moonchaser'.

Vocalist Lon Hawk's delivery does become a little tiresome on occasions, coming across like Peter Gabriel singing Metal, and there are plenty of self-indulgent moments such as the Marillion style breakdown on 'The City Of Amber' which to all but the most ardent Prog fans will seem a tad pompous.

However, there's still plenty to enjoy here though for fans of Progressive Rock who prefer it more on the Metal side.

Mike Newdeck