Customer Reviews

Sunset Gun

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A Wisconsin band of 3 brothers on a French progressive label who are talented and excellent in concert. "Sunset Gun" is an album of varied instrumental pieces that sometimes soar and sometimes are mellow. The brothers Kopecky have really taken their songwriting to another level. "Sunset Gun" is all about the compositions. This is what progressive rock in the 21st century is all about - challenging music played by excellent musicians. If you live in Wisconsin, you should check these guys out. Based in Racine, they open for touring progressive bands that play in the Milwaukee area in addition to playing locally with other local progressive bands.
Bassist William Kopecky is in at least 3 other bands that I know about and seems to be searching for more opportunities to play. He is a member of Far Corner and Parallel Mind - both of which will be releasing albums this year. He also was voted best bassist in Wisconsin for 2004.

As a huge fan of classic seventies progressive rock (Gentle Giant, Gryphon, Focus, VDGG, Gabriel) and from one who's had only sporadic interest in prog since that decade, I'm addmitedly as far out of loop as a prog fan can be. That said, Kopecky is one of the few modern progressive bands I'm tuned into and SUNSET GUN is their magnum opus. Comprised of three brothers from Racine they are as talented as any three performing together in any genre. The virtuostic abilities of the Kopecky 3 coupled with their general music categorization (progressive power trio) might lead one to the fortuitous comparison with RED-era King Crimson. Certainly the energy and talent exists in both acts but whereas Fripp frequently ventures into atonal jazzy and sometimes cacophonous tangents Kopecky generally keeps the rock beat steady but with varying dynamic levels - key for an instrumental trio. Kopecky are beyond strict categorization. Some may regard them as heavy metal and while a metal foundation is evident they are so much more. I'm not a fan of h/m (mainly due to unlistenable vocals) so I place Kopecky in the progressive wing of the music spectrum where there is more room for variance. If some valid comparisons in the h/m arena can be made I'm oblivious to them so I'll stick to what I know...

Bassist, William Kopecky possesses the fluidity of Chris Squire (Yes) and the versatility of Tony Levin (Crimson) as well as the sheer power of Chris Wolstenholme (Muse). The innate, idiosyncratic awareness and attention to detail of drummer Paul Kopecky are present in few drummers, a la Bill Bruford (Yes/Crimson/UK). His more straight forward approach to drumming resembles that of Adolpho Lazo (Tempest). Guitarist Joe Kopecky employs a metal rhythm which can be explosive at times. His is a lead guitar mentality that recalls Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) whereby succinct, melodic riffs are inserted as each song mandates instead of cliched grandstanding and posing.

This record clocks in at 55 minutes with three songs at ten minutes but there doesn't seem to be any senseless jamming or prolonged tracks merely for the sake of prolonging. SUNSET GUN is comprised of well-composed melodies and logical structure with a variety of mood and tempo. William Kopecky frames most tracks with subtle keyboard adornments and, as he is accustomed to, plays sitar on one track 'The Divine Art of Flying.' His unique bass can also be heard on releases by Far Corner, Snarling Adjective Convention and Parallel Mind.

Sadly drummer Paul Kopecky passed away in 2009 thus closing the book on this talented trio of brothers performing as Kopecky.