Alms - The Trial (2022)

Alms is a project created by Aitor Lucena Martínez, Spanish multi-instrumentalist and composer, who offers Symphonic Prog sounds. The new album “The Trial” was released on April 15, 2022 and contains 10 tracks in the form of Progressive Opera, with the participation of some guests. The album opens with “The Charges” an introduction with symphonic features with a dreamy intertwining of keyboards and guitars on a carpet of orchestrations. In the end of the song it turns into a Prog song with retro features. The following “Luxuria” is also the longest track on the album, characterized by continuous tempo changes that allow you to pass from more Symphonic Prog moments to others with Folk traits. A large amount of instruments are intertwined, with intertwining male and female voices and very sophisticated and elaborate musical textures. A very intense track full of variations that enhance the technique of the artists involved, a winning blend of retro, operatic features and Aitor‘s personal touch. From the rhythmic and the tighter and more intricate textures “Gula” presents an excellent intertwining of keyboards and winds, with continuous changes of tempo and dizzying acceleration. The vocal is warm and expressive, the bass lines are deep and load-bearing and the drumming is solid and elaborate. A piece that alternates darker parts with fine 70s-style keyboard solo textures, with more symphonic openings. “Acedia” opens with the piano, creating a melancholic and sometimes dark atmosphere in the first part with the intertwining of the voices. A particular track, mainly linked to the narration, with only in the second part the entrance to the rhythmic session, however very refined and interesting. A dreamy intro with guitar and flute opens “Avaritia” which develops with a change that brings the sound to a more Heavy Prog territory with a fine interweaving of winds and keyboards. the operatic vocal is an added value, as well as the tempo changes that combine the more folk sounds with those properly Prog with an excellent use of the organ. With a succession of elaborate sung and instrumental parts a sophisticated and technically very valid passage develops. “Recess” is a short 2 minute passage, which guides us to the next track with a nice synth in the finale. A long intro features “Ira” with drumming rolls, and then develops a very elaborate theme halfway between Prog and Folk with an interesting vocal part. The orchestrations characterize the second part and the confrontation with God which ends with a valuable Prog passage in the finale. “Invidia” opens with the sound of water and then develops with interweaving of guitar and flute arpeggios, giving space to the sweet female and male vocals that intertwine. After a first introductory part “Superbia” develops with a solid sound halfway between the Baroque Folk and the Prog, with the piano and the guitar as protagonists. Between continuous changes of tempo the track is very interesting and doses instrumental sung parts well, enhancing the artist’s technique. “The Sentence” is the outro of the album and the shortest in duration, with pompous features, concludes the listening in the best possible way. An interesting listening that mixes operatic features with a valuable storytelling and the Symphonic Prog, combining retro features with the modern and personal touch of the artist. An album full of ideas and interesting passages that enhance Aitor’s technique and sung parts that enhance the vocals of the artists involved. A listening recommended for lovers of the more symphonic sounds of Prog, an excellent Opera that develops well the theme and the story at the center of the project.