Unreal!!
If prog metal of the highest order like Dream Theater / Pain of Salvation / Liquid Tension Experiment / Symphony X whets your appetite (and it certainly does mine), then you are certainly in the right place in giving Spheric Universe Experience (S.U.E.) a well deserved blast of the lug’oles.
The early beginning of Spheric Universe Experience dates back to 1999, when guitarist Vince Benaim decided to create a progressive metal band together with his friends Sam (on drums) and John Drai (on bass). They knew that they limited their own repertoire by not incorportating vocals and keyboards, so by 2001 keyboardist Fred Colombo entered the band together with vocalist Alex. Now going by the band name of Amnesya, the guys did lots of live shows and one demo CD.
In August 2002, the band split because of musical disagreements leaving Vince, John and Fred to continue under the name of Spheric Universe Experience.
During the next 8 months their passion for composing led them to write a complete album, which they recorded at home as a demo in April 2003 with session vocalist Franck Garcia, who came in just a few days before the recordings began. The vocals were recorded in a professional studio, and although Franck didn't have much time with the band prior to recording it, the result is very convincing, which is why he has now joined the band fulltime.
The band had the great opportunity to play as support for the mighty band Scorpions in 2005. S.U.E. also opened for the former Scorpions guitar-hero Uli Jon Roth in Paris.
In September 2008, S.U.E. performed at ProgPower USA festival in Atlanta, GA, USA, obviously SUE are no mugs in being asked to perform under this recognised Prog festival banner. So far so good.
SUE have got themselves a pretty decent album in ‘Unreal’. There are no real weak areas, in fact if you just played the music minus the vocals, you’d be very hard pushed in thinking that you were not listening to Dream Theater or Pain of Salvation, or Symphony X - its that strong a CD.
Not as ‘epic’ in length as DT, SUE have all the right elements, tight as a nut vocals, courtesy of the very impressive Franck Garcia, who’s vocals are balanced - melodic in nature and not aggressive, and musical arrangements from their uber-talented keyboardist Fred Columbo - mega riffs that blow you wide open, with choppy, complex rhythms and tight time changes. Gorgeous!
From the first minute of ‘White Willow’ to the very DT-esque final track ‘Tomorrow', its clear that SUE are going places. Mature as finest Brie (they’re French OK!)production is very polished and precise. Put SUE at the top of your essential Prog purchases this year, it will take some beating and thats saying something. A mighty effort. SUE deserve greater things. Being on tour with Threshold should bring them a wider and hugely deserved audience