As far as the overall album is concerned, the actual music is excellent.

It really pains me when I have to give an album a bad review for no other reason than I (personally) think that just one of its performers lets the side down. Sadly that is the problem with this album from intense Technical Progressive Metal act Asymmetric Road.

The musicians who play the bass, drums, guitars and keyboards are amazing, and they conjure up a brilliant mix of Dream Theater and Zero Hour Technical Metal with their incredible musical dexterity; it complements not just each other but the music they create. Unfortunately, their singer Matthias Nussbaumer just isn't (in my honest opinion) right for this band and the kind of music they play. His vocal delivery is too low and raspy for this kind of Metal and what this band really needs to drive them forward is a Russell Allen or James LaBrie type of singer, one who could help to bring the best out of these songs.

As far as the overall album is concerned, the actual music is excellent with some superb guitar and keyboard interplay from Andre Ricci, Patrik Zumstein and Vincent Porcherot respectively. Bows also should be taken by drummer Sebastien Perrad and bassist Leandro Oliveira whose incredible rhythm play lays down a rock solid base and foundation for each of the ten tracks to build upon. As you listen to the album, you can also hear a band that have a real understanding and passion for playing Progressive Metal, with intricate time changes, clever arrangements and passionate musicianship running unfettered throughout the songs. Sadly as mentioned above, even though they have a lot of ticks in the win column, it's Nussbaumer that stops me liking what this release has to offer which is a real shame because this band has potential.

However in this age of "listen and try before you buy", I urge you to please give Asymmetric Road and 'Sinuous Minds' a try for yourselves because it might just be me and you might actually like the vocals and no band should be written off just because of one opinion.

Ian Johnson