A brand new German progressive rock band, InVertigo just released their debut album "Next Stop Vertigo" in late 2010. The format is a quintet consisting of Sebastian Brenner (vocals), Jacques Moch (guitars), Matthais Hommel (bass), Michael Kuchenbecker (keyboards) and Andre Lente (drums). Together they create a very catchy form of epic progressive rock. The first thing that comes to mind when I first heard the album is a blend of Kevin Gilbert, Spock's Beard as well as a bit of classic Yes and Genesis.
The album opens up in grand style with a track called "Vertigo" (7:28). This song alone had me thinking of a ’what if’ scenario of a Kevin Gilbert fronted Spock’s Beard or even Genesis. This is one of my favorite songs off the album and of 2010. I can listen to this over & over and still have the same feelings about it from the first time.
Next up is "The Night" ( 8:58)which on the melodic side of prog, perhaps it could be called a prog-ballad. This song alone should win over anyone that is into symphonic or cross-prog, especially if they‘re into the accessible prog.
We come to the ‘epic’ of the album entitled "Special" (12:23) that reminds me of the better offerings of the NDV era of Spock’s Beard. This also has, equal parts accessible and complex. Together this shows off what InVertigo is capable in an ’epic’ setting. This with the first track, is one of my favorites of the album.
The band switches gears slightly on the next track "Take Your Time" (7:47). It opens with something in the jazz-fusion genre that blends in with some a heavy complex progressive/symphonic rock.
Again, the gears switch on "Night On Broadway" (7:20) which starts off with acoustic guitar and recalls, like the opening track, artists like Kevin Gilbert or a Genesis with a modern approach. Something in place of the Calling All Stations album This is another of my favorites off the album..
Closing track "Saturday Evening" (8:33) starts out in an electro-acoustic manner then about two minutes in it becomes electric based, almost a ballad. This is another accessible song that will help win over people into the prog genre.
In conclusion, Next Stop Vertigo is highly recommended to all modern cross-over progressive rock fans as well as fans of the aforementioned bands. After listening to the album a few times, you can see this band talked about in the same sentences as the modern giants of the genre. I also feel the best is yet to come for InVertigo. So get in on the ground floor with InVertigo’s debut album, Next Stop Vertigo. Your ears will thank you for this for many years to come.
Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on March 29th, 2011
