progshine Pravda's is an American band formed in the early 2000's. Their new album was released last December 21st and it is called The Clarity Of Chaos (2012), the album is a thematic concept work about our short time here on the planet Earth. Pravda's music follows the Progressive Metal pathway but with a lighter tone. The band was a trio when they recorded the album with KC Thomsen (keyboards), Dave Thomas (drums) and John Redfield (guitars, bass and vocals). Now the band also has Tom Svanoe (bass) in the line-up. The Clarity Of Chaos (2012) was recorded at Sonus West and Sonus East Studios and produced by the band itself. This is the band's 4th album.

'Second Hand' starts the CD with quite a good work. The longest track on the album has many moods, rapid passages, Dream Theater kind of keyboards from time to time and a good vocal line. The second track 'Color Of The Moon' starts as an Indian piece of music and soon a very frantic and weird electronic part follows. Then the track keeps a calm, contemplative pace. But very often the electronic Indian music returns.

'Fall Across The Sky' has a syncopated rhythm, almost a jam kind of track. Nice bass line tough. 'Chaos & Clarity' is a bit Prog Metal clich', symphonic keyboards in the background, heavy riff on the guitar and bass and a straight forward drum track. The interesting move on the track are the vocals full of effects in the intro and the change for the acoustic guitar soon after that and a wave of vocals, the best bit of the album really. 'A Hint Of Grey' and 'A Brief Awakening' close the album.

The Clarity Of Chaos (2012) is a good album with many interesting moments, but not a breakthrough. Also the length of the tracks makes the album a bit tiresome. 72 minutes in 6 tracks is a bit too much. But it's the first time the band recorded an album of this kind so I guess they're finding their way. When it comes to the production the band is ok, but in the song crafting I found some of the arrangements a bit raw, especially in the instrumental solos field. Pravda's music will be enjoyed by Prog Metal fans who also like the lighter side of the subgenre.

(Originally posted on progshine.net)

Windhawk Monophobic is the third effort by US proggers Pravda, and like their previous effort a bona fide instrumental affair.

This production offers an eclectic take on progressive rock, covering a wide range of stylistic expressions within these 9 compositions. Riff patterns with synth and keyboard textures fleshing out the sonic tapestry is something of a calling card for this band, and neat, slick developments of themes from one variation to the next as well as from one theme to the other a key feature of this album.

First and foremost it's an eclectic blend of multiple expressions though, ranging from metal-tinged energetic passages to slick, vintage jazz inspired sequences on the other side of the spectrum.

And an interesting experience for those with a wide, liberal taste in instrumental progressive rock.

Windhawk US-based group Pravda consists of established musicians, cooperating in a band structure to give the world their own special mix of what instrumental music should sound like.

Mixing art rock, prog metal and fusion together in a blender, and spicing it all with some weirdness here and there seems to be the basic idea of the band.

Add to that songs where sounds and melodies are deemed just as important - if not more important - than soloing and instrumental show-offs, and you get an instrumental album that is an enjoyable listen - also for listeners that aren't already aficionados of instrumental music.

Well worth checking out.