Mechanical Poet
Woodland Prattlers

The Mechanical Poet is a cheerful Russian trio, and this "Woodland Prattlers" is their second work, released in 2004 as a concept album.

Finally, a breath of fresh air in the progressive scene, which will not disappoint either the attentive listener or those approaching this musical genre for the first time. And speaking of genre, this album is not easily categorizable as it skillfully blends various genres: starting from a progressive metal base, one often encounters gothic nuances alternating with orchestral pieces that evoke the fairy tale world suggested by the cover art; a few incursions into power, and the masterpiece is served.

The whole is achieved with an originality that has been somewhat lacking lately, starting with the concept. Let me explain: inside the booklet, there are no song lyrics or the usual thanks from the musicians, but rather a comic by artist Lee Nicholson, who also of course did the cover art, and the music is nothing but the soundtrack to the story (which I won't reveal to give those interested the pleasure of discovering it), complete with opening and closing titles. But originality is also and above all in the music, powerful and aggressive in the harder parts, clear and delicate in the orchestral pieces, all expertly tied to alternate moments of joy with moments of anger, passing through intermediate emotions.

It's worth highlighting the power of the voice, the raw yet precise sound of the guitar, and the incredible coexistence of the instruments in a chorality where all and none are protagonists. Indeed, the only small flaw of the album is the almost complete absence of a solo aspect (you will notice that the solos are reduced to a historical minimum) but all this gives the album characteristics of compactness and uniformity that distinguish the entire work.

In conclusion, I recommend this album to anyone looking to listen to something different, original, and, in my opinion, very well done. Whether it's beautiful or not, you will decide.