Sun Caged

Ex-Lemur Voice guitarist Marcel Coenon and drummer Dennis Leeflang got together in the spring of 1999 to form Sun Caged. This progressive metal band originates from The Netherlands. Their first self-titled studio album was released in 2003. It includes some outstanding tracks like Hollow, Closing In and 8th Day. Though like most progressive metal bands it has been influenced by the mother of modern progressive metal - Dream Theater, it has its own style which tones down the large musical interludes usually present in progressive metal to a very digestible amount. The complexity and variations is quite acceptable for someone who is new to progressive metal and the album has very melodic vocals (absolutely no growling) thus making a good album to start off with.


Rating: (Lyrics - 8, Riffs - 8.5, Overall Appeal - 8) - 8.16/10.

The band came back in 2007 with the album Artemisia. But the line up was almost completely changed except for Marcel Coenon. The album didn't live up to its expectations. Though the lyrics are quite nice, the riffs are either weak or too similar to their debut album. Hopefully the forthcoming albums are better.

Rating: (Lyrics - 9, Riffs - 6, Overall Appeal - 6) - 7/10.

Motherjane

Motherjane are a progressive rock band from Cochin, Kerala. Now before your eyes go up in surprise, let me assure you that these guys are a real class act: They've been labeled Asia's No.1 Rock Act in 2009, both albums have been rated No.1 by Rolling Stones Magazine, Rock Street Journal and Unwind Center Live Awards. And after listening to them, Ive got to agree with the accolades heaped on them. Think of Dream Theater meeting Indian Classical/ Carnatic music, with Opeth harmonics thrown in for garnishing, and you've got Motherjane.

The band has released 2 albums, Insane Biography (2001) and Maktub (2008). Now I didnt get to listen to Insane Biography, but Maktub, quite literally, blew me away. These guys are quite unique; there's elements of all your progressive metal favourites, but their harmonics, time scales and riffs most closely resemble Opeth. Solos and Leads are played in a very veena like style, which is a hitherto unknown concept in the field of rock and metal, and definitely a good thing. And the vocalist, Suraj Mani is undoubtedly one of the most technically proficient vocalists I've heard. The influences of carnatic music vocals are clearly there.

Songs to look out for are Fields of Sound (Wonderful instrumental, and vocals to match), Broken (This song could give any Opeth song a run for its money, in terms of a bleak, dark and sorrowful theme) and Chasing the Sun. The band has quoted Opeth as an influence, and did open for Opeth at Saarang, IIT-C earlier this year. And even after listening to them repeatedly, these songs refuse to leave my head, let alone get old.

Rating: 9.1/10 - A definite must hear. Indian metal just got a whole new meaning.