Decadence - Dreams of Nekton

With a name like Decadence, this Siberian (!) group is more or less predestined to play grim, atmospheric dark metal... but that definitely isn't all there is to it. Released in 1999 by Musea, "Dreams of Nekton" turns out to be a real gem of complex and ambitious progressive rock. Guitars with Crimsonesque accents punctuate the assembly of an epic conceptual fresco, with vocals by an excellent female singer in their native language. At times she evokes the compatriot and colleague who had worked alongside Eduard ARTEMIEV almost twenty years before (on "Warmth of Earth"). However, the lyrics have been transcribed in English so that the rest of US can understand them... Overall, the music of the ensemble brings to mind the best parts of Japanese progressive, with a twist of Robert FRIPP, and digressions into the territory of progressive metal (which they play with technical skill and absolute mastery).