Overhead
Metaepitome

What can I say about this young Finnish band (with a maximum age around 24) on their second studio album after the promising debut of "Zumanthum". Their music is a mix of very delicate sounds that already appear very fluid and well-arranged upon first listen. This is confirmed in this second work that I will be reviewing, the beautiful "Metaepitome", which personally took me back thirty years, making me realize that there are still people today who know how to play and, most importantly, know how to write and arrange music.

This masterpiece opens with the very long "Metaepitome" where moments of atmosphere worthy of the best Pink Floyd follow one another, and a great emotional charge that makes you immediately realize what this group is made of. After a moment of apparent sonic calm (very well arranged), the song becomes more aggressive, and Jaakko Kettunen, the group's guitarist, also comes to light, immediately appreciated with a hair-raising solo that recalls the best Steve Vai (in fact, he says he is inspired by him). After this storm of sounds comes the calm, and the harmonies return to soar in the air, resuming the opening theme and concluding the song. "Warning: Ending (Without Warning)" is the hardest song on the record, where the use of the flute played by the singer Alex Keskitalo comes into play, almost essential for those doing this kind of music. There are very, very good rhythm changes that highlight the technique of the individuals, and together it turns out to be an excellent song. "Point Of View" seems to have been written by Pink Floyd and if you hear the solo (yet another!) by the guitarist, it seems that Gilmour was playing it, beautiful and impactful. "Butterfly's Cry" is the triumph of the album, where you perceive the sound of the keyboards that come very close to the playing style of the great Keith Emerson, the vocal interludes are exceptional as well as the use of the guitar that accompanies them. The refrain with the keyboards hits you immediately and makes this song one of the most beautiful pieces on the album. "Arrival Of The Red Bumblebee (Instrumental)" is an instrumental piece of great class where the keyboards dominate and give it an unprecedented majesty. Short but intense. To conclude the album, there is "Dawn" which opens with a typical Floydian style where high-level vocal parts and unprecedented use of guitars interpose. A piece of great emotionality that concludes with (just for a change!) the solo of the immense guitarist Kettunen, who at this point carves out an important place in this work.

This is a truly beautiful album, for refined palates and for those who want to rediscover true prog that, thanks also to this group, is steadily rising back up. Absolutely a must-have for those who like the genre, and applause for them, to Overhead!