Album Review: – SOLUTION .45 – Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II

AFM Records [release date 26.08.16]

Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II is Solution .45’s third studio release and is the follow up to Part I released back in November 2015 (though recorded at the same time).

Solution .45 are from Sweden and have been called a super-group of sorts. Jani Stefanovic (guitars, bass, synthesisers) formed the band back in late 2007 with vocalist Christian Älvestam joining upon his departure from Scar Symmetry. Patrik Gardberg (guitars & synthesisers) joined in 2010 and drummer Rolf Pilve has been there since the start but has also recently featured with Stratovarius as well.

Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II continues with the concept of living through the struggles of everyday life.

Opener Dim Are the Pathways sets the science fiction tone…ominous keyboards, orchestra and choir…deserves to be in a movie soundtrack. Faint Pulse of Light sees the arrival of the cookie monster vocals which initially spoil things…but then you notice the decent tune underneath and slowly the vocal style grows on you…

Mind Mutation opens like an old Dream Theater number and features both clean vocals and growls. Overall a decent melodic progressive metal song with death metal vocals thrown in.

Inescapable Dream is very poppy compared to everything else and would make an excellent choice for a cross-over single. The Curse is a cool song opening with its sombre piano, guitar and vocal opening before turning into a clean vocal Opeth-like classic.

If you enjoy old style Opeth and science fiction mixed with a touch of Dream Theater then there is much to enjoy here.

A grower…or should that be a growler…now to check out Part I…

****

Review by Phil Berisford

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THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

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