Vass/Katsionis is a musical collaboration between two well-known Greek musicians, the vocalist Billy Vass (Terra Incognita) and the multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Bob Katsionis (Outloud, Warrior Path, Stray Gods, ex-Firewind). “Cynical Silence” is their sophomore album, released just a year after their debut. In addition to Billy and Bob, Ross Lagos performs drums on the new album.
Musically, they play prog metal that features power, melodic and atmospheric elements. Their approach is closer to the late 90s & early 00s, but they do add several modern touches here and there. The overall sound of the album is reminiscent of classic prog metal bands like Fates Warning, Queensrÿche, Dream Theater and Pain Of Salvation among others, with a melodic and technical edge.
The production is fresh, dynamic and full. The album was recorded and mixed by Bob Katsionis at Sound Symmetry Studio, and it was mastered by Nasos Nomikos (Outloud, Redeemer, Warrior Path, Validor, etc.) at VU Productions, Piraeus, Greece. Moreover, must say that the wonderful cover artwork was created with the help of AI. The band imported the entire album’s lyrical content into OpenGPT, received the exact prompt, and used it on Midjourney. One more great way to put AI to work for your own benefit.
Bob composed the music and also plays the guitars, keyboards, and bass, while Billy wrote all the vocal melodies and lyrics. Bob has done a hell of job on the music part, as his riffs, the solos (guitar and keys) and the nice melodies add a new dimension to the final outcome. Billy’s powerful and expressive vocals complement the album’s music ideally. Songs like “Restless Seeker”, “Cynical Silence”, “Vengeance is Mine”, “Radical Realist”, “Invisible Thread”, “A Day Without Loss” and “My Island is My Home” showcase the duo’s growth as musicians and songwriters. Personally, I favor the album’s second half, where the songs are more atmospheric, but that’s just my point of view. Moreover, I like the fact that they didn’t make the songs lengthy to feed up the listener. That’s a common mistake made by most prog metal bands… cuz they believe you are more progressive if the song is longer!
Closing, I need to notice that “Cynical Silence” is a very good album that showcases the duo’s talent and creativity. If prog metal with strong melodies and atmospheric parts is your thing, you should check out this album.
