Album review: BELIEVE – The Warmest Sun In Winter

Metal Mind Productions www.metalmind.com.pl

Poland is hotbed for progressive rock, being a lucrative touring circuit for overseas bands and then producing some fine bands of their own like Riverside, Satellite and Believe. This is the band’s fifth album and the first to feature new keyboards player Konrad Wantrych, who has certainly jumped in head first being involved heavily in the writing of the album.

Two things really set this album apart…the vocals and musical arrangements which at times recall the mighty Porcupine Tree (’Beginners’ really shows the PT vibe) and secondly, the guitar playing of Mirek Gil, who plays a variety of styles yet never steals the limelight at the expense of a song’s overall melody. Check out the glorious solos on the title track for proof. Love the vocal harmonies and arrangements on ‘Words’, particularly the clever way they ebb and flow throughout the song.

‘Heartless Land’ clocking in at ten minutes will satisfy those after extended instrumental passages and an epic feel to the music. Only the hidden bonus song, ‘The Bright Day’ fails to satisfy, too jazz influenced for my own personal tastes.

Like fellow Polish prog rockers Riverside, Believe have produced quite possibly their best album to date and one for any progressive rock fans collection.

****1/2

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)