(Progressive Metal) [CD] Symmetry - To Divinity (EP) - 1997, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

In spite of the name, Symmetry does not clone or sound like the name implies.... although the music does have some Fates Warning influences, I also hear some Carisma, and some underlying Rush to the main body. There are other sounds as well, but these 3 seem to make up the nucleus of the sound. However, the band uses 2 guitars to drive the sound and no keyboards...I'd love to hear some keyboards thrown in with this music, but the band does a good job of keeping it melodic and semi-complex at the same time. It's got a nice crunch to the sound, thanks to the guitars, and both use simultaneous chords to put some punch into the music. There are a few twin leads floating around that do remind me of Fates, as does some of the lighter guitar they use as intros.
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The production is immaculate, and I always tip my hat to bands that put out recordings by themselves that sound so good.... this is why I write negatively about discs that sound rough, or below average, because there are too many bands out there putting out their own sound that is on a par with excellence to have any excuses. I realize that sound 3D money, but the list is too long and filled with independent bands that have achieved sound that rivals or is better than label-produced discs.

Symmetry's sound is excellent. The bass is deep, the guitars are clean and crunchy, and the drum sound is superb. It sounds like a drum set, not a tin can set. The vocals are well recorded and right up front in the mix. Bands that sound like this need to be applauded, and other bands should take notes from some of these other indie recordings that it CAN be done.

The singer has a strange tone, and because of this, it makes it hard to understand the words without using the lyric sheet. He sounds like something of cross between the Lemur Voice singer [Gregoor Van Der Loo], and the first Survivor singer from yesteryear, which most of you won't remember [Dave Bickler]. It's a nasally, higher pitched sound, but sounds natural at the same time. Singers with tones like this don't have to force the sounds, and pretty much stay within a certain range.

Overall, this is a pretty competent EP, and while I don't recommend that everyone go out and hunt this down, grab a listen off a tape to see that there are bands floating around out there playing good prog metal that we don't even know about yet. I happen to like EP's, especially when they are done well. I don't like it when established bands put out EP's, because it doesn't make sense to me ... but bands that are just starting out, or trying to get their music heard, or because they couldn't afford to put out a whole disc, should try to put something down on disc, and EP's are the ticket. Most aren't worth the price they're being sold at, but some are worth their weight in gold... Hopefully, Symmetry will get heard, put out a great disc, and get their name on the map...

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Erik Masselink - all vocals
Franc Tiehuis - guitars
Frank Schiphorst - guitars
Gerrit Knol - bass
Marcel Heitmann - drums