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Long Distance Calling: Long Distance Calling
Long Distance Calling album new music review

Long Distance Calling: Self-titled

Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
4.0/5.0

Superball Music
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by Craig Hartranft,  02.21.2011

Long Distance Calling's third full length, self-titled, Long Distance Calling offers you a conundrum. This work is both instrumental and progressive rock, which will probably put off those who can't appreciate either one. However, if you're a fan of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Tool, A Perfect Circle or Alice In Chains and even Rush or Dream Theater, you might hear those influences in Long Distance Calling's music.

But they're not unopposed to vocals. In the past they've recruited Peter Dolving from The Haunted and Jonas Renkse from Katatonia to perform on previous albums. For this work, their short list included Anthrax vocalist John Bush, who happily agreed to perform on Middleville. You've never heard John Bush like this: the Anthrax and metal vibe is there, but he sounds spooky, nearly haunted, over the heavy often atmospheric music.

Ultimately, Long Distance Calling is all about the song, and they stand alone in fine composition. Into the Black Wide Open is consciously knotty, heavy, dark, and entertaining. Invisible Giants sounds like a mutation of early Genesis with Porcupine Tree or Pain of Salvation. The best cut is The Figrin D'an Boogie where 70's prog meets the pop-prog of Muse. The Closer Beyond the Void seems to pick up where the opener, Into the Black Wide Open, left off but advance from the sublime to a crescendo of chords and a lusty guitar solo about seven minutes in.

Indeed, as noted before, Long Distance Calling self-titled third album will perplex those unaccustomed to progressive rock. But Long Distance Calling is rather impressive: lots of creativity and intrigue. Recommended.




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In Short

Indeed, as noted before, Long Distance Calling self-titled third album will perplex those unaccustomed to progressive rock. But Long Distance Calling is rather impressive: lots of creativity and intrigue. Recommended.

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