IVANHOE – Systematrix

Almost unnoticed, these guys enter the premier league of German Progressive Metal. Proof of this is their sixth album: Systematrix. After the departure of Andy B Franck, who went to join Brainstorm and founded Symphorce, the band broke apart and reformed after a few years absence. But when they did and worked with new singer Mischa Mang, they released two remarkable albums called Walk In Mindfields and the even better Lifeline. That means that the listener may expect a lot from the new release, and so it comes as a bit of a shock to hear that long time guitar player Achim Welsch has left the troupe. However, that did not lead to drastic changes in style, although quite noticeably the years have not gone by without leaving a mark on the sound of the band. Systematrix is much more modern and heavy, while complex and straight parts alternate much more than on the last two albums. Especially the new sound and the progressive sections like in “War Of The Centuries” make a combination one needs to get used to. Even more so as right after that track the band chose to put the most unusual contrast with the track called “Madhouse”. This is interesting, but far from easy listening.