VASS / KATSIONIS (Progressive Metal – Greece) – Album Review ‘’Cynical Silence” (released April 7,2023 via Symmetric Records)…….Review for KICKASS FOREVER via Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion #VassKatsionis

Review submitted by Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion. THANK YOU!!!

released April 7, 2023

All Music by Bob Katsionis
All Lyrics & Vocal Melodies by Billy Vass
Recorded & Mixed by Bob Katsionis @ Sound Symmetry Studio, GR.
Mastered by Nasos Nomikos @ VU Productions, Piraeus, GR

 

The “Cynical Silence” is the progressive metal album you get, when you put two extremely talented and creative musicians and artists in a studio to collaborate. And this collaboration of Bob Katsionis and Billy Vass is a match made in heaven. What began with the release of “Ethical Dilemma”, a ‘90s inspired progressive metal work that was simply a delight and a great listen, has evolved to the “Cynical Silence”, a proper and fitting follow up, the sophomore work that should have been and thankfully will be with its official release on April 7^th.

Getting straight to the matter at hand and to the interesting parts of this work, the album’s artwork was created using the latest development in Artificial Intelligence technology. By importing the entire album’s lyrical content into the OpenGPT chatbot, the AI provided the most suitable prompt which was later used on Midjourney, for the production of an image. This image that was produced by the Midjourney decorates the cover of the “Cynical Silence”. Now, apart from the very creative use of AI technology, the vibes that the artwork gives off and this feeling of cold and gloomy are intertwined with the musical content.

The “Cynical Silence” is the second testimony of the band’s love for the ‘90s progressive metal scene and for the refined and complex progressive ideas. I have to admit that more often than not, this approach seems tiresome and a vain show of skill and technique, still this project has never given me a reason to think that.

Apart from the progressive metal influences that take the lion’s share in the compositions, in the “Cynical Silence” the power metal is, also, present as it should have been, considering this is a project by Bob Katsionis. Songs like the “Vengeance Is Mine”, show this power metal influence prominently, with distinct Europower ideas that brighten up the sound and add an elegantly epic trace that fits perfectly and enriches sonically the “Cynical Silence”.

Supported and complimented by a stunning production, with crystal clear sound, solid low-end and a massive body, the “Cynical Silence” is without any doubt a great progressive metal work from a project that began as a very promising new musical effort and is on the path of becoming a modern, progressive metal force.

Billy Vass: Vocals
Bob Katsionis: Guitars/Bass/Keyboards
Ross Lagos: Drums

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