Album Review: Battle Of The Planets - Battle Of The Planets

Battle Of The Planets is the ambitious self-titled EP from these local prog rockers that brings together classic prog elements with more modern, riff-heavy sounds. Femme De La Mer opens things with some bluesy piano from multi-instrumentalist Ryusuke Takechi, who also adds King Crimson-inspired saxophone over the album, often alongside Gabriele Tartaglino-Mazzucchelli's intricate rock riffs. Highlights include arguably the most straightforward song, Astronomic, and the epic nine-minute jam that is Drowned Cathedral. While the band certainly sounds technically proficient, it's tough to pick what really defines them. Hopefully they'll find it.