Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
November 2024
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Ivanhoe: Systematrix
Ivanhoe: Systematrix
Progressive Metal
4.0/5.0
Website
Facebook
Massacre Records
by Craig Hartranft, 06.27.2013
Formed better than 25 years ago, Ivanhoe has been a fixture on the German progressive metal scene. They return after a five year absence with their sixth studio album Systematrix.
Ivanhoe: there was a sale on leather coats.
Ivanhoe's strength lies with their ability keep generally technical arrangements interesting across the album. Traditional prog wonks will catch on quickly and enjoy the band's imagination. The casual listener probably not so much. They'll have to listen carefully to catch the nuances of groove, melody, individual instrument lines, or vocal arrangements. It might be a predicament for some.
However, for a few examples, if you give Tin Cans Liberty, War of the Centuries, Madhouse, or Learning Path a chance, the listener will get the subtleties. The songs may seem a bit perplexing, maybe even slow, to start, to some, but eventually reveal rich canvas of musical intrigue and accessibility. They will also get how good Ivanhoe is at song craftsmanship and musicianship. Perhaps the unsuspecting listener should begin with the first cut Systematrix, a more straight forward metal song, or possibly Wall Dancer, which has stealthy rock groove. Or the crafty but less complex instrumental is the place to start. Regardless of how you approach Ivanhoe's Systematrix, fans and prog aficionados in general will find this a challenging listen, but delivering rich rewards. Recommended.
Tweet
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
In Short
Ivanhoe's Systematrix is rather varied and challenging material that, if explored thoroughly, will provide a rewarding listen to prog metal fans.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]