G R A V E W I S H

Artist...: Millenium
Album....: Ego
Year.....: 2013
Rel. Date: 2023-01-08
Genre....: Progressive Rock
Label....: Lynx Music
Source...: CD
Type.....: Retail
Quality..: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo

1.  Ego                                                   10:36
2.  Born in 67                                             9:03
3.  Dark Secrets                                           6:37
4.  When I Fall                                            5:19
5.  Lonely Man                                            10:32
6.  Goodbye My Earth                                      10:01

52:08

Despite the wave of fabulous progressive rock emanating from Eastern
Europe at the moment, donÆt get the idea that Millenium are just another
new Polish band riding on the coat-tails of the likes of Riverside,
Satellite, Believe, et al, as they have been at the forefront of the
genre for over ten years now.
Founded in Krakow by keyboard whizz Ryszard Kramarski way back in 1999,
the band first appeared on most peopleÆs radar in 2008 with their superb
æExistÆ album û and now theyÆve returned to kick your ass with another
dazzling display of prog-rock artistry guaranteed to get the juices
flowing.
æEgoÆ is the bandÆs ninth studio album and itÆs obvious from the outset
that they have used the years well û honing their musical and
songwriting skills to a razor sharpness.
Six tracks in total and prog-heads will be delighted to learn that four
of them clock in at over nine minutes apiece.
The same prog-heads will also be delighted with the quality and scope of
the album, veering from the insistent pulse and delicate acoustic guitar
figure of the opening title track, through to the final gossamer-like
piano arpeggios of  closer æGoodbye My EarthÆ.
In between they take on the entire progressive canon with a myriad of
time-signature changes, a contemporary libretto and pounding guitar
riffage juxtaposed with sensitive keyboard and vocal harmony work.
There is also, dare we say it, a faint whiff of commerciality now and
then, especially on second track æBorn In æ67Æ û AOProgR if you will û
but rescued by one the most exquisite guitar solos youÆll hear.
The band have also (sparingly) used instruments not necessarily
associated with progressive rock û such as trumpet and saxophone û which
lend real variety to the tracks where they appear. Add to this heady mix
a soupcon of sublime female backing vocals, courtesy of Karolina Leszko,
and the circle is complete.
æEgoÆ could be the game-changer for Millenium and after all this time it
would be nothing less than they deserve.
If you thought Polish progressive rock begins and ends with Riverside,
think again. Millenium are lacing up their size thirteens and your arse
is in their sights.
Great stuff.