3RDegree are not newcomers but somehow they are.  The band has been in existence since the 90’s, has released an album already in 1996, but been “gone” for 10 years.  After a reunion in 2005 comes a new album-a comeback so to speak. 

    And the wait has paid off.  Narrow-Caster (a play on words alluding to the battle between independent bands and big broadcasters) has had a 12-year ripening period.  Seven out of ten songs originate in their incarnation from 1996, partly because singer Dobbs wrote new lyrics to them.  The music comes as a downpour-“Apophenia” (the album opener) crashes and bangs craftily and powerfully out of the box. 

    Artful and powerful, those are two words for Narrow-Caster.  3RDegree play these casual, melodic, smooth, typical American prog and remind us a bit of IZZ and Echolyn.  Dobbs sings with a pleasant voice sweetly imploring but can also pack a punch.  To that his colleagues lend chorus passages typical of Echolyn.  Beatle-esque melodies, don’t miss-a bit of Queen, Styx explode-next moment the guitars strongly scream, the bass rumbles and the keyboards sound like festive violins.  (Who wouldn’t think of Mr. Galgano of IZZ?)

    3RDegree works in everything from grunge, hard rock, even a bit of rap, but also west coast sounds, soft electronica loops in their own cocktail of modern prog.  3RDegree are not as complex as Echolyn but have a sufficient supply of gimmicks and ideas ready so that the songs don’t get boring.  Their sound is fresh and new and has a whole lot of vague back-references to classical prog times.  For whom IZZ became too retro, 3RDegree could become new fodder for their passions.

    Narrow-Caster is an all around convincing work typical of American fun-prog which drifts in shallow waters.  Check it out.

Recommended: “Apophenia”, “The Proverbial Banana Peel” and “Scenery”

Comparable to: IZZ, Echolyn and HannaH

11 out of 15 rating

Thomas Kohlruß

8/11/2008

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Translation from original German by Tatiana Pashman