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The Quest - Do You Believe?
Question - y
The Quiet Room - Reconceive


The Quest - Do You Believe?
Now And Then Production
(1993)

It's a first album from U.K. progressive rock/metal group. The cd of The Quest has been getting difficult to locate nowadays, esp., their next album. Although I've never heard of second album that has some good buzz from melodic prog metal fans, I think this first album features prog metal/AOR hybrid sounds that please my ears. Stylistically, the music of what this U.K. group perform is similar to It Bites and Saga to me, because of their friendly sounds and accessible music. Esp., the guitar performance by Chris Dorman shows lots of interesting moments and quite impressive on several songs. Basically, the atmosphere of songs by The Quest has a cross between melodic neo-prog and solid prog metal. They maintain melodic sensibilities and song-oriented approach, but they sometimes show a bit complex parts to enjoy the ears of melodic prog metal fans in general. I hope they would add technical instrumental sections more, but they know how to drive music excitingly well. If you are looking for melodic and less-complex prog metal and neo-prog with heavier edge, then the music of The Quest on this devut album will satisfy you. Occasionally, I revisit and come back to listen to this fine U.K. group's music. Very pleasantly done music with nice U.K. band's feeling and of course, solid musical performance.

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Question - y
Independent Release
(2002)

This album, "y" is kind of another unique technical and complex metal offering from independent band called Qwestion. "y" contains really ambitious, yet quite intense metal ensembles. Currently, I feel the coming of technical/complex metal waves. Definitely, Qwestion is one of them who create something different and meaningful. In most cases, complex and technical metal bands kind of venture into the borderline between thrash metal and technical power metal, or beyond the borderline of complex techno-metal and technical death metal. Qwestion resides in the realm of a cross between the worlds of technical metal and powerful intense metal. Entire sounds represent kind of "in-your-face" complex and energetic guitar playings, busy bass runnings, and bombastic drum onslaughts (mostly drum sounds are kind of played by electric drums or drum machines??). Lots of movements and developments parts created by Qwestion is hardly predictable. Basically, Qwestion is non-vocal instrumental metal band. According to their music and liner-note on the promo-package, the band members of Qwestion seem to put their soul and full-energy into this endeavors to put themselves on the map of techno-metal/complex instrumental metal world. At glance, you hear sonic onslaughts of heavy guitar attacks, busy movements of bass lines, and intense drums. However, you could hear really cohesive and dynamics with well-structured manners. Odd-timing, tempo-changes, high gear speed, hard edge sounds, bombastic energy pack in together. Probably "The Mask", "Chaos Theory", "Forest of The Norm", "3oNe2", and "YacHacHa" are kind of their representing tunes that how far Qwestion can go intense and aggressive enough. On the other hand, they include turn-table featured unique aggressive instrumental "freeProv", Gordian Knot/Pink Floyd-esque atmospheric track "mUsE", and some weird/quirky sound effects & noises on a few introductory parts and ending parts. During 80s and 90s, we have witnessed lots of different type metal bands, such as powerful metal, thrash metal, technical metal, progressive metal, technical thrash, techno-death, and so on. Qwestion is kind of new bleed of instrumental metal act. If you are looking for different type of complex metal instrumental acts, definitely check out this unique band named Qwestion.

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The Quiet Room - Reconceive
Metal Blade Records
(2000)

2nd album from Colorado based U.S. prog metal band. What Reconceive sets separating from previous excellent debut album, Introspect, is a new singer, Pete Jewellfs vocal style after departure of their previous singer. Reconceive features mid-tempo melancholic and dark powerful prog metal tunes and energetic bombastic sounds with some calm and atmospheric elements. Basically, instrumental sections are similar to previous ones. Slightly, they added heavier edge with bits of contemporary/modern approach that reminds me of Superior and Digital Ruin. I found several controversial opinions among The Quiet Room fans. Some TQR fans totally turned off by Pete Jewellfs middium/lower ranges, and got disappointed with his occasional raspy vocal styles that sound similar to Mettalicafs James Hetfield (yeah, indeed, some parts sound very close to James Hetfield to my ears, when they use occasional processed vocals). Musically, I have no problem, and being really entertained by their tight ensemble works and exciting odd-time beats. If you are not picky to Petefs style, then Reconceive is definitely enjoyable melodic and progressive metal album for prog metal music fans in general. As usual, they mix powerful guitars and melancholic keyboard parts pretty nicely. Personally, The keyboard works by Jeff Janeczko are quite tasty and nicely done with heavy complex sections that are created by band members.

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