KINETIC ELEMENT – Travelog (2015)

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Based in Richmond, VA, KINETIC ELEMENT is a symphonic progressive rock group who has followed up its widely acclaimed first CD from 2009 with another journey through instrumental brilliance and poignant lyrics titled “Travelog“.
Keyboardist Mike Visaggio and guitarist Todd Russell teamed up to compose the pieces on this just released CD and are ably assisted by classic rock style drummer Michael Murray and bassist Mark Tupko. Kinetic Element employed the great talents of three singers (Dimetrius LaFavors, Michelle Schrotz and Mike Florio) who are all well known in the prog rock world.

It’s hard to believe Kinetic Element is actually from the USA since their sound is deeply rooted in the European tradition of classic symphonic prog, specially from the UK, but they also mic some Neo prog into their elaborated pieces.

All the compositions feature subtle and wonderful details. Those guys really did their homework, as it is easy to see they have the right influences (ELP, Yes, Genesis, among others, plus some Eloy and early Deep Purple) and still they come up with something totally of their own.
Every solo is a winner and the arrangements are very tasteful. Every musician plays its part at the right moment, resulting a very harmonic sound. They all are skillful but they play for the music, not for showing off.

Highlights are of course the general use of delightful analogic sounding keyboards that reproduce such vintage instruments like the Hammond organ and the mellotron.
The guitar parts are also very good, spicy and creative, carried forward by optimistically busy bass lines, punctuated by effective, classy drumming. Additionally, the varied vocalists could not be better chosen as their melodic contributions exactly fit their parts.
To top it all, every track is simply wonderfully executed while production is right on the mark, very well done.

“Travelog” is a pure delight for melodic prog aficionados. The level of maturity of Kinetic Element in terms of performance, songwriting and production is astonishing.
I recommended it to anyone who enjoys high caliber prog rock with lots of fine melodies.

01 – War Song
.. Part I
.. Part II
.. Part III
.. Part IV
02 – Travelog
03 – Into The Lair
04 – Her
05 – Vision Of A New Dawn
.. Part I
.. Part II
.. Part III

Mike Visaggio – keyboards, vocals
Todd Russell – guitars
Mark Tupko – bass
Michael Murray – drums, percussion, vocals
Dimetrius LaFavors (Odin’s Court) – vocals on 1, 3
Mike Florio – vocals on 4
Michelle Loose Schrotz (Brave) – vocals on 5

BUY IT !
www.cdbaby.com/cd/kineticelement2
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