Alpha Galates are a band formed from the ashes of the Canadian outfit The Hollow, any the wiser? - Me neither. Signed to EMI in Canada A stimulus For Reason is their debut album with the music within best  described as a blend of progressive, goth inspired rock. That description though, to be honest doesn't describe just how good this album is. The accompanying press release mentions the likes of Tool, Opeth, King Crimson, Megadeth and Rodgers Waters as influences and to that you can also add fellow countrymen Rush as some of the guitar lines are very much in the style of Alex Lifeson.  In saying all of that it was the vocals that first attracted the attention  on the short opening track Conformity. A massive classically inspired vocal piece Matthew Wagner provides many of the highlights of the album, singing with feeling and with subtle textures in his voice that suit the many varied and different styles of music served up. Even in the heavier moments the vocals stand out melodically rather than the usual fall back to growled/grunted voices that many of their peers resort to.

On each listen to A Stimulus For Reason another track leaps out as being excellent but have a listen to Natio or Obitus which comes across rather  like a heavier U2 with Rodger Waters providing vocals. However it is the last two tracks on the CD that I find myself returning, Subliminal and Entropy And Chaos, but that is just at this moment. Such has been the impact of this album that I’ve fallen behind with my reviews because I cannot get the CD out of the player or the mp3. it's that good. Heavy,  progressive and yet still melodic and interesting with no musical masturbation to be seen, just stunning music and musicianship.

With the likes of Porcupine Tree and Coheed and Cambria breaking through into the mainstream then with the right promotion Alpha Galates could well find success with A Stimulus For Reason - and that would be no more than it deserves.

Let us know your views on A Stimulus For Reason

Track Listing

Conformity
2 Months In
Standing
Natio
Obitus
The Darkest Eyes
Passion
Stop Programming
Love Despair
Time Out
Subliminal
Entropy And Chaos

Line Up

Matthew Wagner - Vocals/Drums
Karen Wagner - Bass
Todd Lefever - Guitar/Vocals
Rowan MacPhail - Guitar/Vocals/Keys