Prior to being asked to submit a review of the new album by Sieges Even entitled “Paramount” I have to be honest and say that here was a band I had not come across before. Having lived with and listened to this album for a few weeks now I have been regularly asking myself “how did this band slip under my progressive rock radar?”

As it is “Paramount” features ten tracks that are magnificently melodic and absorbing. From start to finish the album has a wonderful flowing feel and is paced to perfection. On each listen I found my mind pushing a word forward to the front of my consciousness that collectively summed up the vibe of this album. That word is “graceful”. You may not have heard rock described that way before but after a few spins of this album I’m sure a listener with an open mind would grasp my meaning.

The opening track “When Alpha And Omega Collide” is truly magnificent. It has a fabulous arrangement with stimulating instrumentation and covers lots of melodic and rhythmic ideas. Somehow the band manage to get all the sections to flow seamlessly into each another and so create a structured song which sounds like it was always meant to be that way and not a collage of ideas stitched together. Arno Menses (vocals) sings his heart out and has a wonderful clear timbre to his voice that sits at the front of the mix .His harmony vocal arrangements are gorgeously rich and full and give the music real depth and width.

The opening track blends into “Tidal” which has a Dream Theater like vibe in the way the guitars riff away with purpose and muscle. I should point out.” Sieges Even” sound nothing like Dream Theater I use this description as a reference only.” Tidal” has a wonderful chorus section, which harmonically reminds me of Pink Floyds “Division Bell”. Straight after the chorus we get a nice tapped clean guitar part which brought to mind Francis Dunnery (It Bites) and the way he would tap out melodic parts across the strings.” Tidal” is a truly uplifting track thanks to the positive harmonies used in the chorus.

“Eyes Wide Open” is a gentle track, which almost takes the listener by the hand and then walks them on a musical journey. The life source of this track is melody and it runs all the way thought the piece in abundance. Remember the first time you heard “Easter” by Marillion and were struck by how beautiful the song was; well this song brings back that emotion.

“Iconic” has an intriguing arrangement, which blends acoustic and distorted guitars in a way that brought to mind Rush during their “Hold Your Fire” period. Like “Tidal” “Iconic” has gorgeous vocal harmonies and melodies, which instantly please and satisfy.

“Where Our Shadows Sleep” sees the bass playing of Oliver Holzwarth brought to the fore. He scatters lovely fills and melodic patterns all over this track and gives the music a natural movement. The vocals soar over the intricate grooves and once more beautiful vocal harmonies bless this track with a real sense of drama. Some of the clean guitar parts brought to mind Eric Johnson during his “Tones” period especially in the way the guitar plays cyclic picked patterns that slowly develop and build within the arrangement.

“Duende” sees the band treading some dark pathways with brooding and angular distorted guitar riffs but rather than letting that flavour persist throughout the music they mix in uplifting choruses and vocals. It works to great effect and makes everything sound more intense.

“Bridge To the Divine” once more brought to mind Rush circa “Hold Your Fire”. It’s the combination of clean and distorted guitars backed by the adventurous bass guitar playing and also the way the music surges forward during its choruses. Lyrically the song stimulates and makes one think.

“Leftovers” sees the guitars flexing their hard rock muscles but being reigned in during the verses and choruses. Vocally I could hear shades of Kansas running though this track. We get a very cool guitar solo with one of the most tasteful uses of a whammy pedal I have heard in a long time and it had me imagining Alex Lifeson jamming with The Edge.

“Mounting Castles In the Blood Red Sky” is one of the most intriguing on the album. It’s an instrumental with the famous Martin Luther King “I have a dream” speech running throughout. The musical accompaniment is at times almost ambient and at others truly in your face. The sublime thing about this track is that it makes the listener focus on the speech. It’s the kind of music that may possibly be the soundtrack to a dream due to its otherworldly quality.

“Paramount” is the final track on the album and also for this reviewer one of the most powerful. It combines verses of melodic beauty with choruses full of dark drama. It’s been a while since I heard a song that encompassed hopes and fears so emphatically.

With “Paramount” Sieges Even have created a stimulating and rewarding album that just gets better on each play. They have their own unique sound and style that is accessible to anyone who loves the music of bands like Rush, Marillion or Enchant. The striking thing about this album is that when you put it on you can’t take it off; you find that the music hooks you and, before you know it, you will have sat through the whole album. Something that I have done time and time again. If you want music that lifts the spirit, gets under your skin and makes you think then go out and pick up this album, you won’t be disappointed.

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 Track Listing

When Alpha And Omega Collide
Tidal
Eyes Wide Open
Iconic
Where Our Shadows Sleep
Duende
Bridge To The Divine
Leftovers
Mounting Castles In The Blood Red Sky
Paramount

Line Up

Arno Menses - Vocals
Markus Steffen - Guitars
Oliver Holzwarth - Bass
Alex Holzwarth - Drums