Finally here is a new release from TOXIC SMILE, the melodic prog metal band from Germany.
After all, it has been three years since their fantastic "classical music meets progressive rock"-DVD "In Classic extension" came out. One year earlier, they had released the official DVD bootleg "Live at the PP5", but their last studio output "Retro Tox Forte" dates already from 2004.
Sadly, this time around we only get an EP from the sympathetic guys from Saxony, but this release contains their trademark sound in concentrated form. The first track "Solitude's Sphere" is a great up-tempo progressive rock number that is so very typical of the band. The following track "Insights" shows the band's mellow side instead. After that, the band from Leipzig speeds up again. "Peak of Delight" starts as a straightforward rock song which allows the rhythm section and guitarist Uwe Reinholz to both shine and to have a fling. The middle section is more melodic again, and of course there's also a fine keyboard solo. The final track and secret highlight of "Overdue Visit" is "Freezing Rain", a killer ballad with trimmed-down instrumentation. Marek Arnold on piano and backing vocals as well as lead singer Larry B. prove with this song that sometimes it's quality and not quantity that counts.
All the songs manage to whet our appetite for more, but after 23 minutes the EP is over and we can only press the "Repeat"-button. With "Overdue Visit" Toxic Smile prove that they're back with a vengeance and the EP raises hopes that we can soon listen to the band's next full-length album.
Songs
1. Solitudes Sphere (7:25)
2. Insights (5:31)
3. Peak of Delight (6:20)
4. Freezing Rain (4:11)
Running Time 23:27
Line-up:
Larry B. - vocals
Marek Arnold - keyboards, piano
Uwe Reinholz - guitars
Robert Brenner - bass
Antonius Gruetzner - drums
