Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Expedition Delta
Label: Progrock Records
Release: 2008
Rating: 3/5
Expedition Delta is a new project from ambitious Serbian guitarist Srdjan Branković, best known as a member of the Serbian prog metal band Alogia. Taking a page from his acquaintance and stylistic role model, the Dutchman Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Srdjan rounded up quite a few well-known names for this project, mostly from the progressive metal world, who jumped in to help him exactly where he needed it most.
Among the names who worked on this album are Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), Andrea De Paoli (Labyrinth), Richard Andersson (Time Requiem), Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists), Joost van den Broek (After Forever), Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge), Torsten Roehre (Silent Force), Santiago Dobles (Aghora) and plenty of others. With such a lineup of different musicians, the whole concept could easily have collapsed and ended up sterile, but “Expedition Delta” as a whole holds together surprisingly well from start to finish. There isn’t a single boring moment on it, which is usually typical of most prog metal releases these days, the ones that so often can’t do without long-winded, technical instrumental noodling. Despite Srdjan’s prog metal connections and the fact that most of the guests come from prog metal bands, the music of “Expedition Delta” doesn’t revolve only around prog metal staples, but also contains some elements of AOR, melodic rock, and a pinch of progressive rock. Srdjan wrote all the music, arrangements and lyrics, confirming that he is one of the bigger contemporary musical talents of our former southern brethren. He also proves himself a guitar virtuoso, with plenty of interesting solo spots and a firm grip on the acoustic guitar, and in places he even played the drums.
Vocals across the whole album are sung by Nikola Mijič, with the exception of three songs that feature female vocals by Sabine Edelsbacher, Irina Kapetanović and Aleksandra Janković (in a duet with Mijič). Mijič’s bombastic, American-accented melodic rock voice is without a doubt not for every taste. Some may even find it annoying, while most melodic rock fans and fans of singers in the Steve Perry mold will have it under their skin in no time.
Song after song, the album is wound up tight to the very end, and fortunately there’s no room for any needless sappiness. Right at the start, the listener is hit with two bombastic, fast-paced numbers that pour AOR elements together with bits of symphonic touches and prog metal virtuosity. “Asunder Hearts” and “Fading Images” are prime examples of cheerful melodic rock songs that will appeal to many fans of bands like Journey and Asia. The additional female vocals are crystal clear throughout, individual instrumental sections ooze technical perfectionism, and the rhythmic changes on drums are rich enough to satisfy even the most demanding. Typical prog metal rhythm patterns (double bass pedal) aren’t missing from some of the songs either.
Of course, the album wouldn’t be complete without a small taste of rock opera in the style of Ayreon or Kayak. “Expedition Delta” becomes truly appealing to fans of prog rock eclecticism on the epic “Astral Journey”, which is split into four separate sections and packed with instrumental adventures and individual solo flights. The special guests really shine here with their guitar and keyboard solos, complementing Branković’s own guitar excursions. This “mini rock opera” can’t match the depth of most Ayreon releases, but it still offers a mix of prog metal and melodic rock interesting enough that the listener never gets a single comfortable moment to yawn. In the second half, the album turns back toward more AOR territory. “Move On” is, for instance, a nifty hybrid of a potential AOR radio hit and prog metal energy. On the other hand, the project keeps proving its eclectic nature right to the end with songs like “Planets”, an almost space-rock instrumental with an electronic solo spot on Norlander’s keyboards. The album also surprised me with its good use of keyboards, which is crucial for decent prog rock and prog metal as well as AOR.
“Expedition Delta” is an interesting release with a balanced dose of melodic AOR hooks and punchy prog metal riffs, and it should appeal to as wide a music crowd as possible. “Expedition Delta” doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the world of prog metal, let alone progressive rock, but it’s still an interesting modern take on crossing melodic rock and prog metal elements, the kind you don’t come across very often these days. Expedition Delta is a good answer to what you’d get if you crossed Ayreon and Asia. That’s why I warmly recommend this release especially to fans of both bands. It’ll be interesting to see whether Srdjan sticks to this one-off or continues with Expedition Delta as a new band with its own vision, which, going by what we’ve heard, would be easiest to file under art rock.
Lineup
Srdjan Brankovic (Alogia) – rhythm, lead & acoustic guitar, additional drums
Nikola Mijic (Alogia) – vocals
Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery, Amaran’s Plight) – lead guitar
Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge) – vocals
Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists, Lana Lane) – lead keyboards
Vladimir Djedovic (Alogia) – keyboards, programming
Richard Andersson (Time Requiem, Space Odyssey)
Andrea De Paoli (Labyrinth) – lead keyboards
Joost van den Broek (After Forever) – lead keyboards
Santiago Dobles (Aghora) – lead guitar
Alex Argento – keyboards
Torsten Roehre (Silent Force) – lead keyboards
Rene Merkelbach (Ayreon) – lead keyboards
Borislav Mitic – lead guitar
Vivien Lalu (Lalu) – lead keyboards
Miroslav Brankovic (Alogia) – lead guitar
Ivan Vasic (Alogia) – bass guitar
Irina Kapetanovic (Irina & Storm) – vocals
Mikkel Henderson (Evil Masquerade, Circusmind) – lead keyboards
Alexandra Jankovic – vocals
Production
Srdjan Brankovic
Tracklist
1.) Asunder Hearts
2.) Fading Images
3.) Self Abstract
4.) Into the halls of eternity
5.) Flight with the mind
6.) The awakening
7.) Move on
8.) Planets
9.) Not too late
10.) Reach for the light
11.) It needs a happy end
