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Astralis is a new Chilean progrock band, rooted in
1999. The musical brainchild is guitarist and singer Patricio
Vera-Pinto who also composed the six tracks. It lasted until
2006 before Astralis released their debut entitled Bienvenida
Al Interior. The music is scouting the borders between symphonic
– and neo-prog with the emphasis on the latter genre, especially
the early Marillion and Pendragon fans will be pleased.
The varied, modern sounding keyboard work is wonderful and
the guitarplay powerful and often moving. The Spanish vocals
sound warm, it is a pleasant Latin-American flavor on this
beautiful album by the very promising Chilean progrock band
Astralis. Here is my song after song musical analysis.
1. Bienvenida Al Interior : A melodic and alternating
sound featuring pleasant and modern keyboards, propulsive
guitar riffs, howling guitar, warm Spanish vocals and lost
of shifting moods. A great start, gentlemen!
2. Nocturno Urbano : After a spacey intro the atmosphere
changes into a kind of ‘symphonic blues’ with moving guitarwork
(like Nick Barrett from Pendragon), this in combination
with ‘choir-Mellotron-like keyboards’ carries me away to
Progheaven.
3. Novento Y Nueve : This long track (12 minutes) contains
lots of variety, strong plau on guitar and keyboards and
inspired vocals, the music often reminds me of early Marillion,
this is neo-prog at its best!
4. Doble Arcoiris : After a spacey synthesizer intro
and fragile guitar with soaring keyboards, a slow rhythm
with piano and synthesizer solo follows but this songs is
build upon the wonderful, often moving guitar play, goose
bumps.
5. Bajo El Domo De Cristal : Another composition with
lots of shifting moods, I am delighted about the beautiful,
very moving guitar solo and a captivating breamk with an
impressive church-organ sound.
6. Kinnara : This final track (10 minutes) contains
in the first part a blend of dreamy parts with soaring keyboards
and sumptuous pieces with sparkling piano and sensitive
guitar. Then we can enjoy a Brian May inspired guitar interlude
with echo and fiery runs, culminating in a final part featuring
an up-tempo with flashy kebyoards and propulsive guitar.
Highy recommended, what a wonderful and moving neo-prog
album!
www.progwalhalla.com
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