Style: Power (clean vocals)
Review by: Dylan
Country: Germany
Release date: 21-08-2020
It’s always difficult to write reviews about albums that are extremely trope-y, regardless of their success in said tropes. By now, you know what to expect when you’re listening to a prog power band: Even though there’s always a possibility that it does something cutting edge, it’d be unrealistic to expect that from a genre that wears it’s personality with pride.
And Assignment is precisely that: A band that goes all in on every power metal cliche in the book with no shame about it whatsoever. But how do they achieve it?
For starters, I’d like to point out it’s positives. Reflections is an album that sounds crisp, crunchy and clean, with every part of the band getting the right amount of auditory representation. Most of the riffs offer a certain amount of headbangability, when they keyboards are used they fit the song’s motif, and there’s also a few moments of layered/dual vocals that sound real nice.
Other than at, it’s all very much, uhm, ”progpower.mp3” if you will. This isn’t necessarily bad, in fact, whilst I was very unimpressed with the album on first/second listen, it started to grow on me afterwards. It went from a painfully average album to an enjoyable one. But even then, I still don’t see myself revisiting Reflections often, and why is that?
It’s just missing it. That thing that immediately satisfies you and offers instant memorability, whether it’s an amazing vocalist, an insane solo, or a groovy riff, it’s not here and I find that ultimately frustrating. If someone were to play this album on their car or speakers, I’d enjoy it, but for my own free time I think that there’s better options in the sub-genre that have offered a bit more substance within the genre’s blueprint.
Still if this is your cup of tea I’d say you give it a go. To me, it narrowly misses out on being a genuinely great release, but someone that finds joy in prog-power differently may genuinely enjoy this album.
Recommended tracks: Corporate Men
Recommended for fans of: (late) Savatage, (late) Pagan’s Mind, Ayreon
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Assignment is:
Diego Valdez (Vocals)
Maria Jose Ledy Pot (Vocals)
Goran Panic (Guitars)
Michael Kolar (Drums)
Heiko Spaarmann (Bass)
Gert Sprick (Keyboards)
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