#synergy protocol

La Mirada Negra – Spanish – LA MIRADA NEGRA 17 – 01 – 28

Programa Del Sábado 28 De Enero http://www.herciosdemetal.com/LAMIRADANEGRA/2016-2017/170128_lamiradanegra.mp3

Synergy Protocol – Odd To Get Even

Synergy Protocol – Odd To Get Even

The debut album from Dutch band Synergy Protocol is certainly not an album comprised of disposable, mindless tracks. No, this is heavy, symphonic progressive rock with all the Gothic and Classical influences that this brings with it. ‘Odd To Get Even‘ is a collection of hard edged songs that sound like they are being played by a band with plenty of experience…

The Iron Road is fast becoming a home from home, a default setting if you will when the call for live music becomes to hard to ignore, a quick hop on a train, a hop, skip and a jump for a night of musical mayhem. One of the constant draws, for me at least, is The Iron Road’s (or is it Muttley’s) will to take a risk, personally I don’t want to see the same band’s week in, week out, I want to see someone new, someone different, not those same old names in a never ending cycle.

One of those considered risks saw the unison of Northampton’s The Last Of Us and Dutch prog rockers Synergy Protocol tread the boards as part of their whistle stop tour.

Now I can’t say I was familiar with either band before they took their turn on the stage and by image alone, I guess I was expecting something very different to what was eventually served up.

The Last Of Us look like a mean, pent up metal or hardcore act, however from the get go, they exceeded any misconceptions by laying down a tight combination of melodic hard rock, with molten riffs colliding effortlessly with a driving rhythm section, providing the platform for frontman, James Shaw to deliver a stunning emotive and melodic sermon, providing the band an instant and infectious focal point as the four-piece delivered a commanding and energetic set from start to finish.

Highlights came thick and fast, as the band delivered a thrilling set of melodic rock n roll, with the likes of Under The Crimson Moon and Quivering instantly hooking the assembled with their memorable vocal refrains and impressive solos, whilst the ballad, Impetus (Latin for passion apparently), highlighted the frontman’s impressive range, whilst the band sounded equally at ease delivering a more stripped down affair as they did cranking it up. The Last Of Us saved perhaps the best for last, with the unexpected, groove-laden single, The Rhythm Of My Drum leaving the small, yet appreciative crowd baying for more.

Dutch five-piece Synergy Protocol, followed the high octane set by The Last Of Us with something of a different sound and approach than the proceeding act, instead of short, sharp blasts, Synergy Protocol, create lengthier, drawn out pieces that take in both metallic and melodic riffs, pounding drums and a combination of melodic,near operatic and hard hitting female vocals courtesy of the spellbinding Laura Guldermond. 

The lengthy odes twisted and turned, as the band ran through their theatrical set, showcasing their musicality along the way, with the likes of Clockworks and Beware Of Your Dreams, really standing out from their set, for their more obvious hooks.