DEGREE ABSOLUTE „Self Titled”

Music: Prog/Power
Country: United States
Cool Songs: Exist, Laughing Alone, and Questions.
Duration: 57:16

Few can argue that DEGREE ABSOLUTE is a meritorious album. The mix is loud and thick courtesy of Neil Kernon (Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore, Judas Priest). Aaron Bell is a skilled musician, actually a former guitar teacher, and shows off his talents whenver the occasion calls for it. The debut, self-titled album is a fine piece of progressive power metal…for the first three songs.

Think a slightly slower NEVERMORE mixed with SYMPHONY X and you’ll have an accurate imgage of the tracks ‘Exist’, ‘Laughing Alone’, and ‘Questions.’ Starting with ‘Confession’, the band loses its focus and travels far away from the album’s powerful beginning. The hard crunch last found on ‘Questions’ is replaced by New Age style keys, twinkling distortionless guitar, and a slovenly pace that seems to drag on for most of the album. Near the middle of the album, listeners may find their thoughts wandering to other issues like what’s for dinner or planning their next vacation.

The bongos at the start of ‘Distance’ are an ill omen for the rest of the album. There are simpily too many soft moments, guitar wankering, uninteresting instrumentals and…BONGOS! Progressive metal diehards might perceive this as dazzling musical showmanship. Everyone else is bound to think this group ran out of ideas for songs, so they decided to jam.

note: 5/10

Tracklist

1. Exist
2. Laughing Alone
3. Questions
4. Confession
5. Distance
6. HalfManHalfBiscuit
7. Pi
8. Ask Nothing of Me
9. Ergo Sum

Line-up

Aaron Bell – Guitars, Vocals
Doug Beary – Drums
Dave Lindeman-Bass