Search - Sylvan :: Deliverance

My GOD MAN these guys are under RATED!

06/22/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all they have 3 albums after this one now. ALL 4 of their albums are awesome, but in a nutshell, they get progressively better with each release. Elements of Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam (mainly vocal style only), Marillion, Yes, and many others blended seamlessly into a unique sound. These guys are among my favorite bands now, and I am going to see them at ROS Fest 2005. If you like progressive rock at all, especially the moodier Pink Floyd kind of style, but with many more mood and tempo changes, you MUST GET ALL OF THEIR ALBUMS RIGHT AWAY! Start with the 2004 release X-Rayed, available on their website at www.sylvan.de. Each album is good in its own way, and all are masterpieces, with the possible exception of the first which is a tad primitive though still excellent. I have listened to Encounters (2000) and Artificial Paradise (2002) about a billion times in my car cranked up full blast, and I have yet to get bored. I always find new things I didn't notice, such as an amazing variety of subtle themes that recur in different songs, some of them take many listens to be revealed. This is heavy duty, deeply layered and polished prog rock music, with an unusually catchy melodic quality. It is shameful that these guys aren't popular in the USA. I guess people only listen to what is foisted on them but I know good music when I hear it and these guys are up there with the best bands of all time, in my (very humble) opinion. I will be buying everything these guys release from now on!"