Deluge Grander - August in the Urals. 2006 USA-Maryland

Deluge Grander is a group created by the ever creative mind of Dan Britton, formerly of Cerebus Effect. Cerebus Effect was crazy enough, but this takes it to the next level. Greg Walker enthused in his catalog: "One of the best American albums ever! Banco meets Anglagard meets Crimson with lots of tron and long tracks." Well, that should setup everyone for a disappointment. Or does it? August in the Urals is so far in the old fashioned progressive camp, that it will appeal to one kind of fan – the old fashioned progressive rocker. This is very much in the over-the-top 1970s American school of complex proggy prog ala Cathedral, Mirthrandir, Pentwater, and Yezda Urfa. It was bound to happen sooner or later, a band would be completely and totally influenced by obscure worldwide progressive rock. Not jazz, psych, blues, beat, classical, or anything else. Not Yes, Genesis, and ELP but rather Locanda Delle Fate, Pulsar, Dun, and Anglagard. Much like Wobbler, if you turn your nose up at it, then it’s probably time to admit you just don’t like progressive rock anymore. Or at least anything new that sounds old. It’ll be condemned as so darn uncool by the hipsters, that it’s likely to be considered interesting by a passing stranger. As for me, well this is the style of prog rock I like most, so almost anything like it will get a gushing review. Hardly an unbiased, fair, and balanced outlook I realize. Not that it’s perfect by any means, the vocals being one of the areas that could use some improvement. And it’s a little short of memorable melodies and good grooves. But no complaints from me, there’s so little of this kind of music anymore, I’ll take whatever is given me. Appropriately enough, the cover is a grandiose Thomas Cole painting, the same one used by doom metallers Candlemass on Ancient Dreams. Who’d a thunk Baltimore would end up being the center of the universe for European prog?

Ownership: CD: 2006 Emkog

2006; 9/26/17 (new entry)