Epic Journey
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The debut album from the Argentina prog-rock masters Bastian Per, Epic Journey brings us 10 tracks that don’t shy away from hard rock and metal ideas in the quartet’s exciting formula.
“Defying Synergy” opens the listen with blistering guitars and pounding drums as prog moments intersect the hard hitting climate, and “Whispers In The Silence” follows with a dreamy, radiant demeanor that showcases soaring, delicate singing that occasionally builds into an emotive outpouring.
At the halfway point, “The Blunder” makes good use of acoustic guitar in the cautious landscape of calm, hazy song craft, while “Confrontation” flows with a bit of mystery amid the bright keys and moody instrumentation.
“Anxiety Break” lands near the end and strums melodically alongside the timeless prog nods, and the title track finishes the listen with an abrupt shift into nearly classic rock waters as busy guitars and thick drumming are met with meticulous keys.
An excellent starting point for Sebastian Prosperi (guitar, drums), Mariano Barreiro (vocals), Gabriel Kohout (keyboards) and Martin Sokol (bass), Bastian Per followed this up with 2021’s Way Back Home, and both efforts are well worth a spin for the prog friendly ears.
Travels well with: Bastian Per- Way Back Home; Fatal Fusion- Dissonant Minds