Wobbler - Hinterland. 2005 Norway

Not since Anglagard, did a band receive so much attention before their debut release. There were plenty of folks trumpeting its release ("pass the torch", bla bla bla ...) and, not unexpected, a full gathering to say Wobbler are really not all that amazing - overrated, over-hyped, over whatever. Since there isn't a single album that everyone agrees is great, this point / counterpoint is bound to happen in the virtual progressive rock town hall. Personally I don't think we can have enough bands like Wobbler. It's analog keyboard heaven. It has the flutes, the woody bass, the active drumming, the loud fat acid guitar leads, the great production. It's rhythmically complex. It's dynamic with real climaxes and releases. It's an open ended style of progressive music, that allows for many avenues, crooked alleys and hidden piazzas. And it takes many listens to discover the various paths. So not every band is the all-time greatest ever, but if there were 50 bands operating in the Wobbler style, most would score very well with me. Either that, or perhaps we've reached a new pinnacle of cynicism, and you have to begin to wonder if you're even a fan of symphonic progressive rock anymore. Admit it, you stumble on something like this album in the record store: 1974 Polydor Norway. And you wave your hand dismissively and bark "It's just average - whoopeedoo". Yea, sure. Through it all, I can't help feeling bad for good ole' Sinkadus. They're really the only other modern band that went down this route in the 1990s, and they were just TRASHED for daring to walk the sacred ground of Anglagard. Time will most certainly be good to Sinkadus. Time has already been good to Wobbler. Bravo!

CD: 2005 Laser's Edge (USA)

2005; 10/11/11 (new entry)