The Block Poetry in Motion

After some listens to this album I took some time off from listening to it. Then for some reason, I don’t know why, I was tempted to give it another couple of spins about a month later; and here I am. At the first couple of listens I was like, okay this isn’t a bad release by a relatively new band. I was happy with it, since they put it out on the internet for free download, but overtime I became more than just satisfied with it, I really began to enjoy it, a lot.

One song that I would like to point out on this album is “Teorema”, which showcases every thing that I like about this album. For one, the opening riff in guitars and bass is absolutely top notch, and not to mention kind of catchy. From there it transfers into a more pronounced and technically difficult rhythm that adds a lot to the overall feel of the track. Then, throughout the song it goes back to the first riff that opened the song, but with a different twist to it. In some spots it’s in a different key, and in others the rhythm is changed a bit, but you can still tell it is that same riff. Gabriel Chaparro, keyboards, and Nicolas Aparicio, guitar, are just two musicians who I want to point out. Both are excellent in soloing and in carrying the melody of the album, and they really show their talent. One thing that I noticed was that when I heard a guitar solo, a keyboard solo or riff was soon to come. This style added a really cool touch to the album that made it predictable, but that is okay with me. Two songs that I would like to point out for this very case are “Teorema” and “The Cube”. Not only does “The Cube” have great musicianship it also features sounds, and riffs, that are very Dream Theater like in both sound and complexity.

Now some people might see that and automatically think that Entropia is a Dream Theater clone. Well, they’re not. They may have some songs, such as “The Cube” and “Poetry in Motion”, that have Dream Theater tones to them but they also integrate their own sound into it so it fits just fine. One way that they show their own style is in the vocals. Juan Manuel Gûiza is very talented vocally and I really like his style. Sometimes it reminds me of Road Salt One, modern-era Pain of Salvation mixed with a James Labrie type sound and other times it is just hard to explain, but I do like his tone, and quality of voice. One thing that I don’t like though is sometimes, such as in “Poetry in Motion”, Juan Manuel Gûiza seems to be pushing the words out in a hurry rather than taking his time. This allows for a somewhat muddy sound, and seems to speed up the tempo even though the band is playing at the same speed. This though, is the only thing that really caught my ear.

The production is pretty standard, but that being said, they did this all by themselves, which for me adds so much more to the album. The sound is crisp and clear, and absolutely perfect in every way; I never noticed a single hiccup throughout the whole album.

One of the best things that Entropia could have done, besides naming their band after a Pain of Salvation album :-), was put it up for free download. Since not many good bands, that I’ve heard, have come from Colombia, so most bands from there don’t get that much recognition. But now many people, prog and metal fans alike, can enjoy Entropia’s great sound. For a great release in “Simetría”, Entropia gets 4 stars.

J-Man Free albums are usually a hit-and-miss concept for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. While there is occasionally a diamond in the rough, many cases tend to point towards the fact that the product in question should've never been "released" in its current state. I'll always snatch up free albums when available, but I'm rarely blown away like I was by Entropia's debut full-length, Simetría. This is progressive metal in its truest sense, filled with excellent riffs, melodic vocals harmonies, keyboard/guitar duals, and the entire ordeal. This album doesn't try hard to be the most unique kid on the block, but the end result tends to prove Simetría as a one-of-a-kind release. To say I'm ecstatic about this band's future would be a tremendous understatement. Simetría is stellar stuff, folks. The fact that this gem was released as a free official download just shows the cruel and harsh reality of the modern music scene. Give these Colombian lads a shot - you won't be disappointed.

As previously mentioned, this is progressive metal in its purest, unadulterated form. Frequent reference points are Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation (Entropia/One Hour by the Concrete Lake-era), and Fates Warning. Fortunately, Entropia never comes across as a clone band, and throughout almost all of Simetría they show a very adventurous attitude. The band's compositional and technical capabilities are almost unprecedented by bands this young. Calling Entropia one of the best, if not THE best, act coming from Colombia right now isn't at all far from the truth. Songs like "Epilogo" and "Simetria" are prog metal masterpieces, and many of the other songs are awfully close in terms of quality. As if the compositional prowess isn't enough, the musicians in Entropia often border on virtuoso-status, which is quite surprising considering how youthful the band is. I especially have to applaud Juan Manuel Gûiza's vocals, which can handle falsettos like Ray Alder and breathtaking harmonies and delicacy like Daniel Gildenlöw. Virtually everything about this band hints towards "prog metal veteran" status, even though their existence has been for only 5 years. I sincerely hope that Entropia has a label and a dedicated fanbase backing them up for their next release - they really are that good.

The production, while still sounding good, could use some improvement. Although it gets the job done fairly well, a more professional production could've really enhanced the overall quality of the album.

Simetría is definitely a promising debut album if I've ever heard one. It'd be worth tracking down regardless of price tag, but considering that it's a free legal download, prog metal fans would be foolish to let this hidden gem slip through their fingers. 4 stars are well-deserved for this promising young act. With the talent and adventurous attitude that Entropia displays here, it's hard not to wonder what the future will hold for them.