Description

Original 1996 press with gatefold cover and printed innersleeve. Limited 700 copies

You never know what you get when you buy an album released by Black Widow records, more than its usually a bit odd and unique and often in very high quality. Runaway Totem is one of those acts that hails from Italy and were signed from to this band direct from the start. On Totem’s sophomore release, Zed, we see a very effective conglomeration of opera and progressive rock, which is perhaps tied together by the incredibly rich atmosphere throughout the album. I hesitate to call it progressive metal, actually, because the guitar tone and disposition of the music is not indicative of metal. Whereas mainstream and/or semi-mainstream rock is usually more relaxed and nonchalant than even the most unadulterated form of heavy metal, Runaway Totem actually has a sound that stands independent from all the progressive metal acts I’ve run across, from Lemur Voice to Symphony X. It’s apparent that the objective of the band’s music is not to amaze with technical flourishes and the type of musical meshing that is prevalent on metal concept albums, but to pull the listener into a vortex of sorts. In this sense, it is like doom metal, but there is still a progressive rock element to it. Male and female vocals, mini-moog, idiosyncratic guitar work and vocal harmonies. All in all, we have an album that really stands out. Overall its a fantastic album that shows that progressive music can be so much more if you just dare to look beyond big names such as Dream Theater.

Track list:
1. Zed
2. Mnar