THE AURORA PROJECT – Selling The Aggression

Unexpectedly, this Dutch Progressive Metal Band delivers one of those underground gems one finds only occasionally that shouts to all the big boys “look, this is the masterpiece you are no longer able to deliver”.  Selling The Aggression is the heir apparent to the Prog Metal throne, which waits for a knight to pull the proverbial sword from the stone again.

The Aurora Project is in its thirteenth year, and the current release is their third album (first with a label deal). The band has grown significantly if one compares the new album to its already great predecessor, not only musically but also intellectually. Progressive Rock is the genre for concept albums, and regardless how much some may consider that cheesy, there are many concept albums among the greatest works of this musical style. Selling The Aggression has to be considered among them, side by side with Paradise Lost from Symphony X, Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood, Contagion from Brit-Proggers Arena, or even Operation: Mindcrime by the formerly fantastic Queensrÿche. The story about modern day technology and how it influences and changes society is only a loosely connected story, but one that opens many opportunities for musical diversity, and The Aurora Project exploits that to the fullest.

Lead by brilliant singer Dennis Binnekade whose voice reminds more than just occasionally of ex-Arena singer Rob Sowden, the six guys from the Netherlands deliver an emotional ride of over fifty minutes that repeatedly asks for another spin to fathom the emotional depths and enjoy the progressive prowess of the seven compositions, ranging between shallow or heavy, fragile or bombastic. A special mention is due for the arrangements of wind instruments, the responsibility of Siddharta Barnhoorn, a Dutch film score composer. But, that is just the cherry on top of the tastiest dish Prog lovers have been served for a long time.