Prepare to meet the best band you’ve probably never heard of. Presto Ballet. About a year ago I bought a copy of their previous album – Invisible Places – based on a two or three paragraph review in Classic Rock magazine. Was not disappointed. Invisible Places is a journey back in time to when heavy rock/prog/pomp intertwined with sweeping Hammond organs and (yes) synthesisers, Moog keyboards and whatnot. Awesome. Now with the release of Relic of the Modern World, the band has produced what will surely become a classic neo-metal/prog retro style offering with a modern bent.
This is simply a remarkable album. It’s fresh, clean, not overblown. Crisp clean guitar work (never fancy for the sake of being fancy) mingles perfectly with those organs and synths. Man, if Rush has released this as instead of or as well as Farewell to Kings or Hemispheres back then you’d not be far away with what you’ll have if you get yourself a copy of Relic of the Modern World. Heck, if Rush had released this now instead of Clockwork Angels then rock critics everywhere would have been rapturous in praise for it.
Think classic Rush, Kansas, Styx, Starcastle and a heavier Yes and you’ll be on the right track. I can hear a bit of NWOBHM in there also not too far removed from White Spirit in places. And it’s even a bit of a concept album with the epic, grandiose closing title track a magical almost twenty minute sprawling epic about a man who tries to “disengage” himself from the technology of today – mobile ‘phone, internet etc.
They don’t make them like this any more so thank goodness for Presto Ballet. Relic of the Modern World has everything. It’s heavy, it’s prog, it’s pomp, it’s retro, it’s modern, it’s melodic. Overall it’s truly outstanding. Make sure Presto Ballet do not remain the nest band you’ve never heard of….!
>> Download Relic of the Modern World <<
In a teasing way, the liner notes say that it’s “to be continued” so we can look forward to the next instalment at some point in the (hopefully near) future.
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