PRESTO BALLET — The Lost Art of Time Travel (review)

PRESTO BALLET — The Lost Art of Time Travel album cover Album · 2008 · Metal Related Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"The Lost Art of Time Travel" is the second full-length studio album by US progressive rock act Presto Ballet. The album was released through Progrock Records in July 2008. It´s the successor to "Peace Among the Ruins" from 2005. There have been quite a lot of lineup changes since the debut album and only lead vocalist Scott Albright and guitarist/keyboard player Kurdt Vanderhoof remain. New in the lineup are Ryan McPherson (organ, piano, synthesizers, lead- and backing vocals), Bill Raymond (drums, percussion), and Izzy Rehaume (bass, backing vocals).

Stylistically Presto Ballet continue the hard rocking progressive rock style of their debut album. In many ways they remind me of Kansas, because they have the hard rock riffs and AOR leaning pop/rock choruses, but they also have the complex playing and symphonic approach to songwriting which characterized many of the European progressive rock acts from the 70s...and yes while this is contemporary progressive rock, almost all elements of this release are influenced by 70s hard rock and progressive rock, including the choice of keyboards like mellotron and hammond organ. It´s interesting to hear Vanderhoof in another setting than his other band Metal Church, and it´s obvious that he has made sure that the two acts are not musically connected. Presto Ballet can play some heavy parts here and there, but they are never heavy metal oriented. The same can be said about Metal Church which occasionally flirt with progressive rock, but never fully cross the line.

"The Lost Art of Time Travel" is a well produced release, and everthing you hear and experience while listening to the album scream high level professionalism. To my ears Presto Ballet are best when they are at their most progressive, while I appreciate them less when they are leaning towards their hard rock/AOE side, but the balance is pretty equal here, and it´s therefore fans who enjoy both styles who´ll find this an interesting release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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