Artist: RETROHEADS
Album: INTROSPECTIVE (CD)

Year: 2006
Media type: CD

The Retroheads-project was started in 2003 by Tore after he had been working several years as a commercial music- and sound-producer for radio and TV in Norway.

After the release of Retrospective, Tore decided to make a few changes in the band’s line-up. Vocalist Mike Mann has joined the band as lead vocalist. He is 31 and from Ireland with a beautiful voice. Deborah Gurnius has joined the band on Flute and background vocals. Gry Anett Stordahl has joined the band on keyboards. This new line up is a exiting prog constellation!

REVIEW:
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the second release by the Norwegian band, Retroheads called Introspective. Mainly because the song styles are more varied than their debut as well as some changes in the line-up, most notably the lead vocals department, now filled by Mike Mann. Mike’s vocals at times reminds me of Philip Griffiths from the band Alias Eye and Poor Genetic Material. There’s also trace elements of other singers but barely enough to pinpoint but rest assured Mike’s voice is really unlike any other in today’s prog music. The refreshing thing about this release while difficult at first to get into, is the way the band creates music in the same vein as the classic prog bands of the 70's but in a very forward way.
This is one of those albums that grows on you with each listen. They’re so unlike the majority of the paint-by-numbers prog bands that mimic rather than create. All of the songs are memorable long after the album is over. I have a few favorites that seem to stick in my mind more like ‘Living In A Bubble’, ‘I Turn To You’ and ‘Slaves of Gold’. To me these are the standout tracks that should attract fans of the more adventurous symphonic progressive music.

Being the musical changes from the debut to this album, I can only hope they continue to expand their musical horizons and maybe explore other more complex styles. Retroheads is oddly named but go past the name and hear their music and see how much this band is needed in today’s progressive genre. I’m certain that most of the demanding of prog fans will embrace this band and it’s albums, especially this album Introspective. I can’t recommend this enough as one of the best of 2006.

TRACKLIST:

1- Rainy Day
2- Living in a Bubble
3- Black Hole Eyes
4- One World
5- Be Aware
6- I Turn to You
7- Slaves of Gold
8- Tidel Wave
9- Karma