Seven that Spells - Black Om Rising [Beta-Lactam Ring Records - 2008]Seven that Spells are a Psychedelic & fired-up prog rock collective from Zagreb, Croatia fronted by designer and guitarist Niko Potocnjak. Black Om Rising is their second album on Beta-lactam and their 5th album in all. There has been quite a lot made of the comparisons and connections between Seven that Spells & Acid Mother Temple; with Makoto Kawabata appeared on their last album and ATM been quoted as a big influence and while this may have been true on early releasers Black Om Rising really steps out from their main influence shadow. The sound here is a lot more cleaner, precise, fiery & bass driven then AMT’s and brings to mind a mix of King Grimson, Rush, Gong spacey jazz tone and fired up 70’s rock. The band offer here eight tight, rocking and atmospheric prog rock beasts with some nice metallic & funky learning’s. With the main players in the sound being bass and guitar with great embellishment from the sax and the odd trail of spacey synth. As well as the album on the flip side of the disk you get a great DVD of fired-up and energetic live performance that last around half an hour and takes in great live renditions of a hand-full of tracks from the album. Through clearly their sound comes from a mixture of 70’s prog rock bands Seven that Spells managers to put enough of their own identity and rewarding twists and turns to make this extremely worthwhile in it’s own right. Really a great pumped –up prog rock album with great musical precision, groove and atmosphere. Roger Batty
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