Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Mechanical Poet
Title
Woodland Prattlers
Type
LP/EP
Company
Aural Music
YOR
2004
Style
Progressive
4/1/2005 - Review by: Ken Pierce
Mechanical Poet - Woodland Prattlers - 2004 - Aural Music

Track Listing
1.Main Titles
2.Stormchild
3.Bogie In A Coal-Hole
4.Sirens From The Underland
5.Will O’The Wisp
6.Strayed Moppet
7.Old Year’s Merry Funeral
8.Natural Quarternion
9.Shades On A Casement
10.Swamp-Stamp Polka
11.End Credits
Progressive metal has a new ally in the band Mechanical Poet. This group has taken a pretty unique and seldom used approach to their debut release entitled “Woodland Prattlers”. They choose to mix lush orchestration and different vocal stylings all over the record. It is also labeled as the original comic book score, so there is a booklet to go along with this which I was not provided with (a shame since I love that stuff). Fans of the type of music that Dream Theater performs will most likely enjoy this most for it employs a number of the things that those folks lean towards. It was difficult in one sense to describe this other than to simply say it is very easy to enjoy and I found myself taking repeat listens. If you like Progressive and yearn for some difference this might actually do the trick for you.

The group hails from Moscow and it comprised of members Lex Plotnikoff (guitars), Max Samosvat (vocals) and Tom Tokmakoff (drums) along with some other contributors. The guys took an interesting take on the music and it seems that this will be the kind of group that will be good in concert. The CD plays along fluidly through song after song and builds up a setting for your mind to enjoy. Among my favorite tracks on this concept album are “Natural Quarternion” and “Strayed Moppet” as I found myself listening to them more than two times very quickly. I also enjoyed “Shades On A Casement” which added the whole power ballad effect that I like every now and again.

With the group taking this unique approach of more orchestrations than those of their peers it allows their brand of Progressive Metal to retain a freshness that is not too easily achieved. This is especially so when so many of the major players in power metal are doing the same thing over and over instead of taking the nature of musical experimentation to the next level. Bands who choose to do so, are worthy of the title progressive. Let’s welcome Mechanical Poet to the fold.


Rating: 8/10


--Ken Pierce 03.31.05




  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: MECHANICAL POET
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Woodland Prattlers
2004
Aural Music
Ken Pierce4/1/2005
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: MECHANICAL POET
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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