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Tangent Plane: Project Elimi
Tangent Plane Project Elimi album new music review

Tangent Plane: Project Elimi

Progressive Power Metal
3.0/5.0

7Hard Records
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by Craig Hartranft,  03.21.2011

An important word of caution about Tangent Plane's second release Project Elimi: there's a lot of music here, and not all of it's easy to digest. Project Elimi can be somewhat sophisticated progressive power metal, but it's not always the most inviting and accessible, at least with a only a single spin.

For instance, the first two songs One Month in Real-Time and One with the Lies are powerful numbers, but too eclectic and convoluted to be memorable. Things improve to some measure with Ice Age, at least at the beginning it pulls you in. However, it soon turns into another remarkably uninteresting number. What follows swings between dramatic and predictable. With exception of the multifaceted and subtle Deadborn, much remains the same since the beginning.

Is it possible to try and also be too progressive? I wonder. The title cut, obviously the showcase song, is an extravagant piece, over 22 minutes, that multiplies the character of the preceding songs in enormous proportion. Even with the ambitious and knotty arrangement, incredible patience is required to consume (and even enjoy) this lengthy song.

A few final notes of interest, or concern, depending on your view point. As to lead guitar work from Piero Pellegrino: at best it seems as color, at worst an after thought. Although he is quite impressive on One Moment and the Murder After. Ultimately it appears that the lead vocals are to be the point of interest here. Jan Michaelis has a fine voice, strong and versatile. Yet, I tired of that constant quiver (or vibrato, I believe, might be the correct word) in his singing. Sometimes, after several spins, I wonder if my ambivalence to the music wasn't fashioned by the character of Michaelis' vocals.

Despite my misgivings and ambivalence, there is little doubt that Tangent Plane is quite talented and Project Elimi an ambitious work. Nevertheless, it's not overly remarkable or memorable; I'm not sure I would return to it any time soon. Listen for yourself and decide.




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In Short

Despite my misgivings and ambivalence, there is little doubt that Tangent Plane is quite talented and Project Elimi an ambitious work. Nevertheless, it's not overly remarkable or memorable; I'm not sure I would return to it any time soon.

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