'SL Theroy' is the project of multi-instrumentalist 'Sotiris Lagonikas' who has just released his 4th studio recording 'Cipher' and he has also released a concert with a string orchestra 'Progressively Dark (A Concert For A Group & String Orchestra)' in the form of a double CD which is the only album with 'Cipher' available on Spotify under the name 'SL Theory' (see here), the album 'Progressively Dark' of 2012 having been released under the name of the artist and also available under spotify (see here). In this new album, while he provided all the instruments for the first 3 opus, he only provides the rhythm section and called on artists for vocals, choirs and other instruments.
'Cipher' mixes progressive rock with melodic hard-rock and the first track of more than 13 minutes is the only long development of the album which takes us in a progressive style of the 70s / 80s with many nested parts ones in the others, an important use of keyboards and remarkable vocal sections. The suite is more conventional with titles between 3 and 5 minutes and constructions with progressive components generally less marked and I will cite for example 'Devil's Suites' or 'Table's Turned' which are in the same style as formations of the 70s / 80 like 'Alan Parsons Project' and others, more energetic like 'You Never Happened' or 'Grave Danger' which are more in the style of groups like 'Uriah Heep'. The ballad 'If It Wasn't for You' (which is included in a long version at the end of the album), well placed in the middle of the album, offers a break before going back to powerful tracks like mid-tempo 'Anyone, Anymore' and 'If You Saw Me Dead' between rock and hard-rock with some progressive components and remarkable vocal arrangements or 'Silence and Loneliness' which, on a slow tempo, deploys a melody and a vocal section which can make think to 'Queen', the album ending again with a powerful mid-tempo 'A Song About Nothing' and the short 'Happy', completely quirky from the rest, between funk and soul with great brass reinforcement.
In summary, with 'Cipher', the Greeks of 'SL Theroy' released an album mixing different styles and influences which therefore intends it for an audience open to a set of genres mixing rock, hard-rock and metal... | |
