MyStreamz.com CD Reviews

Disc number two for Denver's the Quiet Room is a few step above their debut, in my opinion. Half of the band left before recording this disc, so newcomers Pete Jewell (vocals), Rob Munshower (bass), and Graeme Wood (keyboards) were added to the band and their presence has improved the band's sound immensely. They are still writing quality progressive metal songs, but are as heavy as a full throttle freight train packed with elephants! So, essentially what has happened is that the Quiet Room, who are anything but quiet, have moved from being a Dream Theater/Fates Warning wannabe band to having more in common with the likes of Antithesis. Instead of getting mellower, the Quiet Room have actually gotten heavier and are now pushing the boundaries of speed metal and even thrash metal at times and combining these heavier styles with their already proficient technical brand of progressive rock. That is not to say that there are not the mellower moments or the dynamics within the songwriting. Songs like "Reason For Change" experiment with less aggressive song structures. In contrast, songs like "Controlling Nation," "Suffercation" and "Your Hate" are fast, heavy and aggressive. However, within all these songs there are plenty of tempo changes, staccato rhythms, stop/starts and emotional vocal melodies to keep even the purest of progressive metal fans happy. I must also say that I love the mix of guitars and keys on this disc. The distinction between the two instruments is quite apparent, but they work together quite well. Prognosis? Great disc!