Customer Reviews

Into the Night

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album may have created its own genre...or at least sub-genre. Categorized as a neo-prog band since practically before their inception (back when they were known as Collage,) these guys have significantly ratcheted up the noise quotient on each release after their magnificent debut in '03. Anyone with any sort of objectivity to their eardrums would certainly pronounce this album as having every bit as much to do with metal music as it does with progressive rock. In some places, more! They are indeed very talented and fully capable in their new realm, but I figure you'd want to know (despite the other opinions expressed herein) that if you liked their first record as much as I did, do NOT expect a repeat with this '08 release. I think I can safely state it's an improvement on their sophomore effort "Evening Games" at least from a compositional standpoint, but its got such a grind quotient going on that I sincerely doubt it will appeal to many of the same listeners. In fact only the first song, which vaguely reminds me of some 70s-incarnation King Crimson, interests me at all. I think it's pretty obvious why they chose it to lead off with.
Now if you don't find grunge & squeal hard to enjoy, this may well be much more your thing than mine. The compositions and arrangements are surely more heady than straight-up metal, but less virtuosic and technical than, say, Gordian Knot. Since it's somewhere in that complicated-in-between, I feel dubbing it neo-progressive metal is an accurate and descriptive handle you can use to pre-judge whether it might be your musical "mettle" (if you'll pardon the pun...)

This band has quickly become one of my favorites. There is so much to listen to, so much detail, that prog like this shouldn't be overlooked. It has one foot in the past but is incredibly forward looking. This is one band that deserves to be recognized as one of the best.

I take it back! When I wrote the review for "Sunrise" I was so taken by that CD that I just couldn't quite get this one. It is very strange because I just didn't care for "Into The Night" at first. But after listening to this amazing CD in my truck while driving to the beach on a cloudy day it suddenly took hold. This CD is incredible! I absolutely love it. It is not progmetal at all. It is high quality prog performed in the style of classic Genesis, Marillion, etc. But these guys are extremely original and modern too. I am really so glad I took a chance with these guys because I had never heard them before I ordered their CDs. They are the most remarkable prog band to come along since Porcupine Tree. That is a fact! I hope they continue to make great music well into the future.

I have really come to love the previous album, "A Street Between Sunrise and Sunset", but it was only around the fourth time I listened to it that I really fell in love with it. I have only listened to this album 2 or 3 times, but I really like it.
I would like to add that I somewhat disagree with the reviewer below who classified this as a neo-progressive metal album. I know metal can get hard on the ear sometimes, but there are only a few sections of this album that come close to metal in my opinion. If you have listened to any albums by the group "Threshold", for instance, which is truly progressive metal, "Into the Night" does not come close.

Playing Satellites "Into the night" for the first time I was immediately appalled by two noticeable aspects. The opener stroke me with the ease and precision in which vocals, keyboard, drums and guitar all moved in a kind of circle, picking up on each others tracks in near perfection if not in perfection (if there is any such thing in music at all).

Second stroke - the guitar work by Sarhan Kubeisi throughout the CD has a warming familiarity in the line of suggesting classical rock riffs - yet it is refreshingly innovative and emotional at the same time. Unashamed of the guitar heroes in the genre it seems youthfully daring, explorable and at the same time masterful and self confident.

The music to me is very much like what is called progressive rock music. Rather in an easy accessible sense there is nothing really spectacular about it, except maybe for the second track "Dreams" that comes in three pieces and displays a concept - like ambition. Easy listening Progrock with a touch of innovation but displaying a lot of influence from the likes of Pink Floyd, Genesis, etc. as far reaching as America. Satellite though remains original despite these faintly familiar resemblances.

The bonus material is not really up to the rest of the album. As it is often the case, it seems to be the filler to reach a decent album length, not to alienate potential buyers by having only seven tracks. It doesen't hurt either on the other side.

The only reason, why I couldn't give this album 4 stars lies with the certain restraining strictness, with which change of tempi and movements are applied, especially noticeable in "Don't walk away in silence". it almost seems disturbing, as the momentum of getting carried away by the riffs and the drumming is suddenly interrupted by strict order and lines to be followed.

All in all great listening and really enjoyable rock music.

nice progressive cd.great musicians here all Satellite's cd's are well written and played flawlessly. recomended highly!