J-Man
Light Future
It's rare to find a musician like Sebastian Persini. Here's a guy who can compose terrific songs, arrange all of them, produce the release, and even go on to play just about every instrument on the album aside from a few solos. Although there are quite a few musicians who attempt to succeed at such an ambitious and work-filled project, Sebastian Persini pulls it of with ease on Lost City, his debut album. The thing that amazes me the most is the fact that this is only Sebastian's first outing in the music industry - who knows where such a talented guy will be in the future! If you like (mostly) instrumental prog metal, this hidden gem should be one of your first acquisitions this year.
The music on Lost City is instrumental (except for one lyrical track) progressive metal. Sebastian Persini is pretty unique, though. Expect to hear traditional prog metal sounds, jazz influences, atmospheric touches, and a few softer prog rock sections. The meaty compositions played in an exceptionally professional manner never disappoint. Of the 7 tracks here, it's really difficult for me to pick a favorite, although I will say that every track is unique and highly enjoyable in its own way. I especially like the way Red Dusk sets the mood for the rest of the album, and the female vocals in No Way Out add some good variation into the album. It's incredibly hard to not be intrigued during the entire listening experience of this album - every song is fast-moving, unique, accessible, yet deep enough to keep you coming back for more. What could be better from a prog metal release?
Sebastian Persini is, of course, a very talented musician. Although he is primarily a drummer, he also plays bass, guitars, and keyboards throughout most of the album. And he does a pretty darn good job too. The guest musicians throughout the album are also really great, and provide a nice solo whenever necessary.
The production is pretty good for a self-produced effort. There's definitely a lot of atmosphere in the sound, but there is enough power here to do the metal sections justice.
Conclusion:
Lost City is a fantastic debut by Sebastian Persini, and I find it to be highly recommendable to fans of instrumental prog metal. I can't wait to hear where Sebastian takes his talent in the future, but I've got a feeling it'll be something great. 4 stars are well deserved on this one - fantastic job, Sebastian! Keep the great music comin'!