Osada Vida - Particles (2013)

Artista: Osada Vida
Álbum: Particles
Año: 2013
Género: Heavy Neo-progresivo ecléctico
Nacionalidad: Polonia


Track Listing:
1. Hard-Boiled Wonderland (6:15)
2. Stronger (4:13)
3. Fear (4:41)
4. Those Days (5:42)
5. Shut (3:42)
6. David's Wasp (6:25)
7. Different Worlds (5:32)
8. Until You're Gone (5:19)
9. Mighty World (4:56)

Line-up/Musicians:
- Marek Majewski / vocals
- Lukasz Lisiak / bass
- Rafa "R6" Paluszek / keyboards
- Bartek Bereska / guitars
- Adam Podzimski / drums


A pedido del público y gracias a nuesto buen amigo Sandy, resubimos este buen álbum de este buen grupo alemán...

Bueno primero que nada agradecer la invitación de Moe, a participar en este Foro y esperando sea del agrado de Todos (Caramba que formalidad....) Bueno aqui mi primer post espero sea de su agrado.

Tras la renovación con Metal Mind Productions, Osada Vida regresa con más fuerzas al panorama progresivo con una música directa y mucho más diversa que en anteriores esfuerzos. Bajo la misma premisa de estructuras progresivas la música se ha vuelto mucho más consistente y profesional e investiga profundamente en sus posibilidades como grupo, atreviéndose con exposiciones instrumentales y posturas sonoras de una grandísima calidad. En este sentido, los instrumentos juegan un papel relevante a la hora de exponer sus tesis musicales, bien arropadas por una exquisita voz, lo que les proporciona un buen resultado final. Buen rock progresivo a la altura de los mejores.

En éste su 4to álbum oficial de estudio, OSADA VIDA estrena cantante y, ciertamente, una nueva orientación rock progresiva. Su característico ArteRock con decoraciones o metálicas o electrónicas o folk sigue presente, pero ahora como que le entran a un rock más natural y orgánico, a veces con orientaciones hard, a veces con sabores swamp, a veces con tonadas heavy, pero siempre con los timbres más enganchadores. Lo cierto es que esta banda, alineada ahora con Marek MAJEWSKI (canto), Bartek BERESKA (guitarras), Rafał PALUSZEK (teclados), Łukasz LISIAK (bajo) y Adam PODZIMSKI (batería) adquiere una nueva actitud y nuevas energías, mostrando sus ideas en un álbum con colores combinados en alto contraste.
En relación con lo que OSADA VIDA ha presentado en sus realizaciones anteriores, el álbum "Particles" «Partículas» es muy diverso pero en apego con el sonido que los caracteriza. Así, rola a rola ellos proponen la diversidad en base rock progresiva estilo OV, comenzando con una 'Hard-boiled wonderland' que se traslada de lo enérgico a lo melódico y continuando con una 'Stronger' de sabor a MOLLY HATCHET, 'Fear' con sobresaltos punk, 'Those days' (la canción que más me gustó en el álbum) de sonadas referencias GUNGFLY, 'Shut', grave, con gritos y gruñidos, 'David's wasp' instrumental y ensoñadoramente progresiva, 'Different worlds' con un sonido más bien pop, 'Until you're gone' como el primer tema, alternándose de lo enérgico a lo melódico, 'Mighty world' de orientación metálica y, finalmente, como bono, su versión a 'Master of puppets' de sus majestades del metal METALLICA, para cerrar con tonos jazz.
Me parece que "Particles" mantiene bastante bien la orientación que OSADA VIDA ha definido en sus tres discos anteriores, con la salvedad que ahora la diversidad en los estilos es la pauta con que se arman. Y aunque atrás de tanta variación se identifica una correcta homogeneidad en el estilo propio de la banda, opino que les habría resultado mejor un álbum con mayor concentración en lo que ha definido al grupo, pues lo que escucho ahora es incertidumbre en la elección de estilo, pues no creo que un grupo como éste deba estar haciendo variedades sino estilos sólidos.

Alfredo Tapia Carreto

I've been a big fan of Osada Vida's music ever since I first heard the innovative The Body Parts Party. With each and every album there is a change of tact and the band explore new angles. With their latest release the music is well crafted, beautifully played and dare I say catchy.......not heavy prog at all, but certainly you couldn't argue that the band aren't progressive! A special mention to the singer Marek Majewski who has an excellent voice which is essential to make this music work. I really like this album a lot and for innovation and progression I will give this the maximum 5 stars. Well done Osada Vida; one of the greatest bands on the current Polish Prog scene in my opinion; up there with Votum in the genre.

Demolition Man

The elements of a fine album
Polish band Osada Vida have seen their reputation grow steadily through the release of some of the finest prog albums of recent years. Since the appearance of the excellent 2009 album 'Uninvited dreams', Marek Majewski has joined the band as lead vocalist, transforming the line up from a quartet to a quintet. Majewski also provides most of the lyrics, the band collectively being credited with writing all the music.
The album sees a natural evolution in the band's approach, rather than wholesale changes. The cover art offers an immediate indication of this, being lighter and simpler than previous albums. The concept album approach is set aside in favour of presenting nine strong, individual pieces each intended to stand alone as a complete piece. We also have a rare cover version , of which more later.
The opening track, 'Hard-Boiled Wonderland' will be familiar to those who investigated the band's first DVD last year, as it was the only unreleased song included in that gig. The track blends influences such as Yes and King Crimson in an off-beat but rhythmic heavy guitar driven piece. While the pounding riffs are deliciously heavy, the feel is lighter than previous albums. 'Stronger' is the first of the tracks to fully reveal the band's stated ambition for this album of presenting something more accessible while retaining the musical integrity that has served them so well to date. The highlight of the song is some fine guitar and keyboards interplay between Rafał Paluszek and Bartek Bereska.
'Fear' retains the pulsating enthusiasm of its predecessors, the infectious choruses leading to the repeated climactic refrain of the song's title. 'Those days' offer something of a breather; while hardly a ballad, the songs is lyrically reflective and musically a bit softer. The track closes with a fine lead guitar solo. The lyrics of 'Shut' (and 'Hard boiled Wonderland') are written by Bereska, with Sivy of the Polish metal band Tuff Enuff providing growled type vocals and a dynamic lead guitar solo. The growled verses alternate with melodic choruses in a song that is something of a departure for the band from their prog foundations.
The contrast between 'Shut' and the following 'David's Wasp' is huge, the latter being a soft, drifting instrumental featuring some of Bartek Bereska finest soloing. 'Different worlds' maintains the more direct approach, while 'Until you're gone' is an out and out rock ballad with an anthemic chorus. The album closes with 'Mighty world', a song that returns us to the heavier frantic riffs of the opener, the positive vibes of the chorus making for a suitable ending.
One bonus track is added to the album in the form of a cover of Metallica's 'Master of puppets'. The song is actually more of an interpretation with a piano based jazz rhythm underlying the light vocals.
Overall, an album that represents quite a shift for Osada Vida. While excellent musicianship and fine production may be taken as read, the generally more accessible nature of the songs should appeal to a wider fan base while continuing to satisfy those who have followed the band thus far.
With thanks to Metal mind Productions for the pre-release review copy of the album, which is due for release on March 25th in Europe and April 9th in the USA. By the way, the CD booklet includes a name-check for the band's 'friends at Progarchives.com'.

Bob McBeath

Polish band OSADA VIDA has been around in one shape or another since the late 90's, and since they released their first material in 2000 they have steadily developed their sound, style and popularity. "Particles" is their most recent studio effort, and was released by Polish label Metal Mind in the early spring of 2013.
"Particles" is a CD that comes across as a playful and innovative at the same time, as it appears to be reaching out to cover a broader audience segment, pleasing moods and melodies combined with unusual instrument movements in fairly intricate compositions. An intriguing and accomplished production by a band that now appears to have constructed a strong musical identity, with fans of the more adventurous neo-progressive music as a likely core audience within the realms of progressive rock.

Olav Martin Bjørnsen

I haven't heard 2011's 'Uninvited Dreams', although I know that it has had some very strong reviews, so all I had to go on before playing this album was the 2008 'The Body Parts Party' which I wasn't exactly a huge fan of. So when I put this on and "Hard-Boiled Wonderland" literally blasted out of the speakers before moving into a driven neo-prog number I was somewhat taken aback. To say that the band has moved on in the last five years is quite an understatement. Whereas previously there was confusion and lack of clarity, now we have a band that is full of confidence and know exactly where the music is going to take them. It is polished, heavy without being too metallic, and there is even a sense of humour in the some of interplay and nuances. Great vocals with a real feeling for accessibility and immediacy makes this album an absolute delight from start to finish. Now a confirmed five-piece, this is yet another band that is flying the flag to show just how much great music is coming out of Poland.
Bartek Bereska's guitar sound is superb, and his control and fluidity of solos really lifts Osada Vida to new heights. As much as I felt disappointed by the last album of theirs that I heard, this time I am excited and looking forward to the future. I also realise that I am going to have to go back and get 'Uninivited Dreams' after all as if that is in the same vein as this then I am in for a real treat. If you want commercial Dream Theater with some great It Bites hooks then this is for you. Visit their webiste at www.osadavida.art.pl to find out more.

Kev Rowland

Exquisitos.

Enjoy.... :hi: