The history of 'Proage' goes back quite a long way since the leader 'Mariusz Filosek' created it in 1984 with the drummer 'Arkadiusz Aru Grybek'. At that time, they did not produce an album and it was only in 2008 that the group resurfaced with the recording of their first demo in 2010 but which had no follow-up. In 2014, they started giving concerts and it was in 2017 that their first studio recording 'Odmienny stan rzeczywistosci' is released (which was also released in English version). Since then, they have released three other albums, the latest 'Coelum' being entirely acoustic. 'Purgatorium' is therefore their 5th album and its particularity is to be written in Latin. They offer us progressive rock with some forays into heavier atmospheres including a long development in three parts which occupies three quarters of the disc and which is framed by two shorter compositions.
'Salve' opens the album with a contrasting composition which alternates heavy parts and other much calmer parts which requires adhering to these changes in intensity but which, on the other hand, benefits from catchy melodic lines. After this aperitif which whets our appetite, the first part of the title song unfolds a 17-minute saga, taking us into a magnificent progressive labyrinth which alone is worth the purchase of this album and in which the instrumental sections are well represented , 'Krzysztof Walczyk' on keyboards being highlighted many times in different solos, like this section with Hammond sounds at 2.50, and the 'Floydien' guitar solo of 'Slawek Yeahlon Jelonek' in the second part of the title is also beautifull. Also note the finale taking up for a short moment the theme of 'Lacrimosa' from Mozart's requiem with some altered electronic sounds bringing a very successful musical disgression integrating perfectly into the whole. The second part, lasting around ten minutes, begins in serenity with a magnificent atmospheric instrumental part which gradually gains momentum with the arrival of the electric guitar and which falls back on a few piano notes, then, the title continues with a gripping melody on which 'Mariusz Filosek' offers us a beautiful, very expressive vocal performance, the finale bringing a sort of remarkable quiet strength. The third part begins in a more lively way with a rhythm section which leads the dance, then the tempo calms down for a part in which the vocal/guitar duo is magnificent, part which is followed by equally remarkable keyboard and guitar solos, for then return in the finale to the faster rhythm of the beginning. The final composition 'Somnum', is less easy to access with an introduction led by drum rolls and contemporary disgressions, then the title continues with a more conventional piano/voice duet to then return to a section with disturbing sounds, the flute of 'Karolina Grodzinska' providing flamboyant accompaniment. And if you want to discover this album on video, you can do so with the remarkable clip of the first part of 'Purgatorium' which you can view above.
In summary, the Poles of 'Proage', led by their leader 'Mariusz Filosek' who provides all the compositions, deliver to us an album of high quality which is built around the title song 'Purgatorium' and which offers progressive rock of great richness while keeping an accessible melodic side which should please all fans and all fans of long developments that we appropriate, little by little, listen after listen... | |
