Nebelnest: Cyril Malderez (guitar); Oliver Tejedor (keyboards, percussion); Gregory Tejedor (bass, percussion); Michael Anselmni (drums, percussion).
Recorded at Stufio Midi, Pyrennees, Caudeval, France.
Audio Mixer: Bob Drake .
Recording information: Studio Midi Pyrennees, Caudeval, France.
It's not often that a new band takes the contemporary prog-rock scene by storm, but that's exactly what French quartet Nebelnest did with their self-titled 1999 debut album. The follow-up NOVA EXPRESS picks up resolutely where that bold statement left off; the band's hard-hitting, all-instrumental approach mixes the epic grandeur of symphonic prog, the often-manic dexterity of fusion, and the doomy, angular Wagner-with-an-amplifier approach of mid-'70s King Crimson and fellow Frenchies Magma.
The grinding, effects-laden guitar of Cyril Malderez plays tug-of-war with Olivier Tejedor's driving, full-throttle keyboards over a percolating rhythm section where the growling bass often threatens to rise up out of the mix and overtake the high-register lead instruments. The reigning mood is a dark, heavy one (though prog-metal overtones are thankfully absent), but atmospheric moments do pop up occasionally to give the ears and heart a breather while reminding the listener of the broad sonic pallette available to Nebelnest.
Professional Reviews
Alternative Press (5/02, p.96) - 8 out of 10 - "...This is instrumental prog rock at its best..."
