Tanagra
Meridiem

“Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra”, a quote from Star Trek The Next Generation when Picard is stranded with a Tamarian captain who only speak in allegory, pretty good episode and the 102 one of the Next Generation series. The second of the fifth season, it is called Darmok and the quote I opened with is probably one of those that sticks from the series despite it being very long since I saw it. I think Star Trek TNG is better remembered than watched; the movies are better than the show but the legacy of the show a lot better than the movies. I don’t think that it is a long shot thinking that the band name Tanagra comes from this episode as the band is interested in Science Fiction as well. Meridiem is their second album and I have been listening to it.

It is a progressive power metal album with sense of theatrics and such. Quite remnant of some progressive rock bands as well, IQ is probably a strong influence but also more generic heavy and power metal bands like Blind Guardian, Helloween and others like them. It gives a sense of sci-fi and fantasy from both the cover and the style, fairly diverse and tempos that reminds me of IQ but also of the mentioned metallers. Quite long songs and perhaps a bit more dynamics should have been applied as the album tends to feel a tad long and slow. The sound is excellent though and the vocalist is also really good, a very strong production.

It is a good album with good songs, great melodies and some other nice touches. But a bit long as I was alluding to before, it lacks the absolute depth to work for a playing time over an hour. Perhaps they have borrowed a bit too much from the progressive rock inspirations and that is probably why they have a tendency to make the songs a bit long and I wouldn’t be at all surprise if it is possible to cut away twenty minutes and improve the album quite a bit. Besides the slight lengthiness of the album there is no weakness, the sound is great and the same goes for the atmosphere, it is a fine album.

Fans of the progressive power metal should be most pleased with an album like this, it presses their buttons, and perhaps it could even have a wider appeal than that. It is a strong production that could win them one or two fans, it could be worth giving a few minutes of your time – I just wish that it wasn’t that many minutes. Nevertheless, why not check out Tanagra and their new album Meridiem? I think there is a good chance that you will like it.

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