Proghma-C – Bar-do Travel (2010)

Holy shit! We have actually have a band that features a very unique and original sound. While almost 9 out of 10 bands we receive every week sound very much like somebody else, Proghma-C sounds exactly like nobody else. The band has tons of different influences ranging from more commercial Metal, to more obscure genres that you would never image they would blend well.

Hailing from Poland, Proghma-C unleashes 9 tracks of pure musical weirdness. While some of you might be frowning since most people think weird=bad, but this is not the case with “Bar Do Travel’. The overall hypnotic feeling that the songs have is probably the only ‘generalization’ you can make about this band’s sound.

Starting off with a very Groove-like riffing, you are quickly transported to a Progressive section with Tool-like vocals. Then it sounds like Meshuggah, and then it just keeps getting weirder and weirder their guitar work sounding like Mastodon at times. While it’s hard to pin-point the band’s genre, it’s not hard to notice that all musicians are very good and they have created 8 very interesting songs (and one cover).

While we can start describing all songs, one by one, and breaking down the influences we will generalize instead. The chugging riffing is very good, but sometimes is too repetitive, sounding too much like Meshuggah and getting annoying at times. The clean vocals sound very good, and provide the right feeling to this overall hypnotic experience. The harsh vocals give out a nice contrast, but could have been avoided and “Bar-do Travel” would still be a very good album.

The atmospheric elements are top notch and create a very trippy atmosphere; we need to consult with our drug-consuming friends if this will do anything for them on their ethereal trips. But for us, they sound pretty trippy and intense. The Bjork cover sound very different from the original, but it has the right crazy Bjork-like feeling we expected.

Production wise, “Bar-do Travel” sounds excellent. Everything is mixed just right and allows the individual instruments to shine when needed, like the bass guitar line. If you are looking for something ‘out there’ then give this young Polish band a try, you will not regret it. If you want something like a Cynic-meets-Tool-meets-Post Metal/Post Rock, then this is your release as well.

Release: July 27th, 2010

Country: Poland