This band is on the pop-prog metal tip musically and the sci-fi tip lyrically. For fans of COHEED AND CAMBRIA, here is another group working with the same idiom. It appears that 3 have been fleshing it out for quite some time, so it could be wrong to accuse them of bandwagon-jumping. Shit, these guys played Woodstock ’94 and ’99, so they have been at it for at least 11 years (they are from Woodstock, NY so getting the gig may have been a little easier to attain). C & C’s involvement in this project may only mean that they are part of the same scene, sub-genre, or what have you. Is it just me or is it that copycat bands by and large seem to have practically no social interaction or involvement with the groups they so shamelessly pilfer (i.e. CREED and STP’s blatant liberal use/abuse of PEARL JAM’s vocal sound)?

3, instrumentally have the chops, artistic vision and acumen to get the job done. Guitar, bass, keyboards and drums are tightly woven into intricate slabs of sonic depth. “Alien Angel” opens this disc. The acoustic guitars are generally layered within the context of the songs rather than used solely for intros like most metal. The same goes for the keyboards. Guitarist Joey Eppard displays his virtuosity sparingly when it comes to soloing and general guitar heroics. During the acoustic playing on “Bramfatura”, he lets loose with his mastery of the instrument. His rhythm playing, along with singer Joey Eppard, is quite complex and layered. On the vocal tip Eppard shares a slight similarity in timber with Snake from VOIVOD, even if his vocal style has a little less bite (pun intended, whatever). Sometimes he goes a little overboard with his effusive syrupy-sweet voice; a little more rasp in the proceedings wouldn't hurt. It would also be nice if he ventured a little further out of his mid to upper alto range. That said, his singing is still killer and easily blows away 90% of what comes down the pike. At least this band is not wasting their talents with some crappy screamo vocalist. I could hardly imagine that kind of front person on the ever-mellow “Dogs of War” (not to confused with the horrendous PINK FLOYD song). Some of these songs are so poppy that you forget you are listening to a metal ensemble. “Soul to Sell” is a sanguine example of this with its RUNDGREN/BEATLES-esque leanings.

I’ve got to give more mad props to Metal Blade for attempting to move metal forward. Their lasts few releases, that I have had the pleasure of hearing, have shown us that the metal genre as a whole does not have to be strewn with stagnancy and rehash. This release by 3 is keeping up with these standards quite well. After four listens, this disc just keeps improving.

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: www.theband3.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Alien Angel

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