Mister Kite - All In Time

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Lion Music
Catalog Number: LMC 2201 2
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:10:00

They call Mister Kite a progressive metal band, but they don't sound like any progressive metal band that I know of. Unless progressive metal has changed into something that I don't recognise anymore. Ok, so they have some minor progressive tendencies with some not overly frequent time changes and the like, but nothing about them rings the usual progressive ways, apart from their emotion-charged, soul-searching lyrics that could be compared to Dream Theater or Pain of Salvation. So, moving away from the lack of progressive leanings, what do Mister Kite offer the average "progressive metal" fan?

Three words: modern hard rock - a sound that is so far removed from any other band I've heard recently that I'm wondering if they're opening up a new genre or whether this is GM (genetically modified) metal/rock. Their brand of hard rock has a very modern approach; in fact, I'd go as far to say that this has more mainstream rock associated with it than anything else - but here they are on progressive & rock label Lion Music. Vocalist Alf Wemmenling, with influences ranging from Mike Tramp to David Coverdale and late 80s hard rock bands, suits the music perfectly, and with the bottomed out guitar playing of Magnus Kristensson, they create a vibe that has more in common with Nickelback or Zakk Wylde than anything I've heard recently. It's quite a groove driven album which gives the album a blues feel as well. The melody-laden riffs are quite impressive but won't necessarily appeal to metalheads in general. A touch of keys is present, but they don't fill the sound at all and are quite removed from the up-front vocals and guitar. But their presence is certainly felt. There are some really big standout numbers on here, including the 4 song concept of "The Diary Of A Stranger" and tracks such as the rock-driven "I Want More," the anthemic "Here We Are," the ballad "Stranger," and the all out "Soul Saving Sister."

Mister Kite have the ability to go places both in the "metal" world and possibly in the mainstream rock area. Whilst All In Time won't appeal to (all) metal heads, Mister Kite give us modern hard rock with touches of many things. And I still have no idea where they got progressive metal label from, but best of luck to them.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
All In Time (4:12) / I Want More (3:39) / Here We Are (4:39) / Seventeen Years (3:21) / The Diary Of A Stranger: Part I - Stranger (2:52) / Part II - God Knows I Know (6:11) / Part III - Another Me (3:48) / Rain (4:08) / It?s Too Late (4:12) / Inside (3:48) / Soulsaving Sister (3:51) / The End Is Near (3:55) / The Diary Of A Stranger: Part IV - Reflections (4:33)

Musicians:
Alf Wemmenling - vocals
Mats Bergentz - drums
Anton Johansson - bass
Magnus Kristensson - guitars
Tomas Djurfeldt - keyboards, rhythm guitar

Discography:
All In Time (2002)
Box Of Fear / The Hunger (2004)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin SE

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.misterkite.com
Hits: 1779
Language: english