IVANHOE – Systematrix

May 24, 2013 Frank Jaeger Album Reviews, Reviews 0
IVANHOE - Systematrix
  • 8.5/10
    IVANHOE - Systematrix - 8.5/10
8.5/10

Summary

Massacre Records
Release date: May 24, 2013

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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.

Systematrix is not easy to label. While the intellect still tries to do just that, feet and neck and guts already enjoy the title track or the nonchalance of “Learning Path”, the off-handed keyboard bits in “Walldancer”, and the progressive-relentless “Brokers Lingua Nera”. Unfortunately, not all choruses hit the right nerve — “Tin Cans Liberty”, for example, has a great verse only to find the climax of a matching great chorus missing, although the rest of the track with its almost Lizzy-like twin guitars would make a certain highlight under different circumstances. But, throughout the album the band manages to place enough remarkable sections so one is drawn between the heavy and the melodic.

The band helps the fan a little bit to compare the new with the old by re-recording “Symbols Of Time”, originally from their second album. Those who know the original version will immediately recognize the difference, away from being an obvious Dream Theater honoring Prog Metal band to a Metal band that likes their stuff progressive. The emphasize has shifted, the sound has changed, however, the quality remains with a dose of newly developed character of their own. Ivanhoe need you to make an effort to discover their songs. But the journey is worthwhile!

Tracklist: Systematrix, Human Letargo, Tin Cans Liberty, War of the Centuries, Madhouse, Learning Path, Walldancer, The Symbiotic Predator – Seduction, The Symbiotic Predator – Resolution, The Symbiotic Predator – Late Recognition, Brokers Lingua Nera, Symbols Of Time

Author

  • Frank Jaeger

    Frank was a reviewer here at Metal Express Radio, based out of Bavaria, Germany. He has worked in the games industry for more than 20 years, now on the manufacturing side, before on the publishing end. Before this, he edited and handled the layout for a city mag in northern Germany ... maybe that is why he love being part of anything published. Frank got hooked on Metal at the age of 14 when a friend introduced him to AC/DC. They were listening to The Beatles, Madness, and The Police, and he decided they should move on. Well, they did, Back in Black became Frank's first Metal album, and since Germany is reasonably close to England, they had some small New Waves Of British Heavy Metal washing up on their shores: Tygers Of Pan Tang, Samson, Gillan, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Sweet Savage, Diamond Head, etc. If he had to pick his favorite styles, Prog and Power Metal would be at the top of the list.

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