Sieges Even - Paramount
Inside Out

file under prog / sympho metal

Winston: With the very impressive album ‘The Art Of Navigating By The Stars’ the German prog rock band Sieges Even reported back in action in the year 2005. The surprise being the talented Dutch singer Arno Menses who was able to make quite an impression on the complex style. Sieges Even became more accessible without leaving their identity behind.

Time for the second one with Menses and I tip my hat again, twice even because what they laid down with ‘Paramount’ is simply marvellous and takes it all a level higher. Menses blended in more and more and Sieges Even delivers a top quality release with this new album. It’s not too boldly stated when I say that everything stands in place, more than ever before. Because more subtlety is allowed in the Sieges Even music, like Dream Theater and Spock’s Beard also do, Menses takes his chance to shine. With original melodies and thoughtful lyrics his mark is branded more deeply in the music. ‘When Alpha And Omega Collide’ the album opener is great, the head creeper ‘Eyes Wide Open’ or the instrumental with Martin Luther King sound bytes dressed ‘Mounting Castles In The Blood Red Sky’ three highlights are mentioned but they could be swapped with three other titles next week. The production of ‘Paramount’ deserves an honourable mentioning, Sieges Even 2007 sounds crystal clear and direct, like it should. Bravo Sieges Even, a new entry in my year top 5.

Rating: 95/100 (details)

http://www.siegeseven.com