'Egor Lappo' is the project of Russian multi-instrumentalist and singer 'Egor Lappo' who has released two albums in the past three years ('Way Without Light' in 2018 et 'Azimuth' in 2019) and who qualifies his style as 'space prog-metal', I quote his page bandcamp : "Trancevoicer" is a space prog-metal concept album about two warring worlds. The story follows a renegade who decides to betray his home planet to save another one from occupation after cosmic catastrophe. Through his journey, other turncoats join him in pursuit of a detached but peaceful life. Both worlds reach the brink of destruction in the end: one from stubbornness, mistrust and solar flares, and another from possession, greed and wars". Musically, he puts forward cosmic keyboards supported by guitar riffs bringing power to his compositions, the whole being sprinkled with a good dose of progressive.
'The Renegade' which opens the bal is a good example of what awaits us on the whole of the opus with an introduction led by keyboards which fill the whole space and which are accompanied by a powerful rhythm section, the melodic lines being tame from the first listen and the singing of 'Egor Lappo' recalling artists of the 80s like 'Alan Parsons Project', the following title 'Dreamworld', dotted with electronic effects, continuing in this atmosphere and we say to ourselves that the metal tag, given the rather moderate style, is not necessarily appropriate for the few guitar riffs that accompany the keyboards but rather deserves the name of 'melodic space prog-rock'. The sequel scrolls through heady new melodies with 'Turncoat Allies', the sound being slightly more powerful, then, 'Contention' offers us an addicting chorus and 'The Mask of Kindness' continues in a very accessible melodic progressive. The second part of the album is like the beginning with a catchy pop 'Ship1426', the short cinematic instrumental 'Under the W' with spatial sounds taking us back to the 80s, then 'Sparks in the Nights' which is an energetic composition with always this well-balanced mix of dazzling keyboard sounds and a powerful rhythm section. When the atmosphere is calmer, 'On Such a Sad Note' takes us on a power ballad with a fairly classic but so effective guitar solo, the album ending with the mid-tempo 'With You' which delivers us a last melody whose chorus never leaves us.
In summary, this new album by Russian 'Egor Lappo' is very pleasant to listen to with very accessible melodies and omnipresent keyboards with sounds reminiscent of the synthesizers of the 80s supported by a powerful and modern rhythmic base, which intends 'Trancevoicer' to all fans of a catchy progressive rock that is quickly revealed from the first listen... | |
