Gallery – Jas Gripen

By Mark Elliot 
Track 1 ” Painted Black” starts with a rolling drum intro which goes into a Zeppelinesque guitar riff which continues throughout. Interesting vocals and not a bad guitar solo ensues but it’s a bit rock rather than Prog. Rolls along nicely, though.
Track 2 “Jas Gripen” is much more interesting and original with a wonderful haunting melody complemented by a powerful backing track. Not many bands get this right but they do. I wish this song was a bit longer as there was much more mileage in it.
Track 3 ” Sarin and Airplanes” is much more complex than the others with an interesting sustained guitar sound interspersed with some really great piano. They’re a bit like Muse meets The Foo Fighters and I’m not sure if this really fits into the Prog format. But, however if you like your songs short and to the point with lots of punch then this band are for you.
Track 4 “Escape” is another rolling riff song but they do it well and the heavy guitar isn’t too heavy as to spoil the undercurrent “interesting” stuff. Great vocal/guitar melodies really work well. This band have taken elements of the Prog chord/ melody structures and whipped them up into something really interesting.
Track 5 “Tall” is a bit of light relief with a rolling drum/vocal intro into the guitar part. Again it’s a bit like Muse but better, with some superb vocal melodies which haunt you while the rest of the band keeps the momentum up.
Track 6 “Tell Me” starts with an odd keyboard sample and follows formula with haunting vocals interspersed with riffy guitar parts. I really like the sound the band is putting across but, first, I think their record company has held them back by not letting the band do some long songs and secondly once you have found a formula for your sound you tend to stick to it rather too much, which is unfortunately the case here.
Track 7 “Grief” is a lot more epic than the others \nwith a slower 3/4 tempo and more spacey guitars and vocals. The melody on this one is a bit obvious and it’s been done before. Also the guitar playing doesn’t blow you away, it’s competent but, well, \nit doesn’t blow you away.Track 8/9 “Don’t Blame The Pilot” into “The Denial” starts off much more imaginatively with a 1930’s piano sound over some scratchy \nold record. The big guitar riff then comes in and predictably the haunting melody starts again. This is really great stuff but I feel I’ve heard this one \nbefore. Also there aren’t enough tempo changes to make this a true Prog album. \nIt’s half there but not quite.
Track 7 “Grief” is a lot more epic than the others with a slower 3/4 tempo and more spacey guitars and vocals. The melody on this one is a bit obvious and it’s been done before. Also the guitar playing doesn’t blow you away, it’s competent but, well, it doesn’t blow you away.
Track 8/9 “Don’t Blame The Pilot” into “The Denial” starts off much more imaginatively with a 1930s piano sound over some scratchy old record. The big guitar riff then comes in and predictably the haunting melody starts again. This is really great stuff but I feel I’ve heard this one before. Also there aren’t enough tempo changes to make this a true Prog album. It’s half there but not quite.