Inner Resonance - Solar Voices

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Independent/Descant Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

This band is the brainchild of Jeffrey Ryan Smoots who plays guitar, keys, bass and drums as well as singing backing vox. Smoots is joined by Peter Orullian on vox and keys. Worth noticing is that that Jeffrey released a solo album under the name J.R.S a couple of years back.

Inner Resonance offers mature, well played/written and dramatic prog metal/rock. What hit me is that the music is not dominated by a certain instrument, but on Solar Voices it is the melodies that is in focus. Each instrument is present and together they provide the musical approach that is Inner Resonance. I also think this is their biggest advantage and trademark. Of course, there are heavy guitars, cleverly balanced and backed up by clean guitars, atmospheric keyboards and piano, good bass work, technical drumming and good mid-to high-ranged vocals. The vocals are in fact very good, coming across as mix of Geoff Tate and Ray Alder. The vocalist does a good job varying his vocal-style and using his wide range. Only on the highest notes, you can hear that he overstrain himself. Although this is indeed progressive and at times technical, fortunately, they do not try to show off. The CD contains one hour of high class progressive metal, so there is enough music to digest for every prog fan anyway.

The CD is nicely balanced between straight prog metal songs, atmospheric piano led ballads and parts, and good instrumentals. Another thing that surprised me is the instrumentals. They do not try to show off, neither throw themselves into technical insanity, but again, it is the melodies that are in focus. You can hear musical influences and elements from various parts of the world, which are playfully integrated into their blend of prog metal, prog rock and neo-prog, Solar Voices takes you on a journey of various soundscapes and musical expressions, and there is enough variation to make this an interesting experience. The production is good, although it could be improved overall. The songwriting, musicianship and arrangements are very good and I'm very excited to follow this band in the future.

If you like prog metal and prog rock, or are into bands like Dream Theater, Queensryche, Fates Warning, Rush, etc. this should be absolutely worth checking out. Inner Resonance however, does not need any comparisons, as they have found their own identity and style. Absolutely worth checking out!

[This review originally appeared May 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Icarus (3:31) / Winter's Dream (5:09) / One More Summer (9:12) / Ember (4:30) / Wanderlust (3:54) / Solar Wind (5:01) / Desire To Believe (6:53) / Open Eyes (4:13) / Broken Stone (6:59) / The Drum (9:58)

Musicians:
Jeffrey Ryan Smoots - guitar, bass, keyboards, drums
Peter Orullian - vocals, keyboards

Discography:
Solor Voices (1999)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: January 1st 2005
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.iresonance.com
Hits: 3596
Language: english