DGM The Passage cd review

August the 26th sees the release of in my opinion one of 2016's top releases as DGM follow up 2013's Momentum cd with The Passage out on Frontiers Records Srl.

Last year for me Symphony X produced the best release of the year with the phenomenal Underworld and after having the pleasure of having listened to The Passage for over a month now this is right up there.

Progressive metal played with passion and feel going from incredibly heavy to soft passages which I love as the light and shade of the music gives every band member the chance to shine with a production that breathes and embellishes the nuances in the sonic soundscape which was done by guitarist Simone Mularoni.

The opening track The Secret Part 1 is so amazing it is so difficult just to press play again and again and not hear anymore.
It has everything that I love about this music after an atmospheric opening a huge held guitar riff from Simone Mularoni and a barrage of drums from Fabio Costantino herald a quite glorious track that fairly rattles along with bobbing bass from Andrea Arcangeli and Emanuele Casali on keys adding a real depth to the mix.
Huge huge chorus with Mark Basile on vocals having a melodic stance to his tone and range which works marvellously with the pace of the track.
Mid song guitars and keyboards trade solo's both showing again melodic leanings whilst the rhythm team still kick up a storm.
It isn't just notes for notes sake as the song ebbs and flows and mid song a superb vocal and keys interlude takes it right down before the band build it up again making it even more powerful.
More melodic guitar soloing alongside the vocal in the outro before it goes right back to the beginning with the big guitar riff back again.
What a start.

The Secret Part 2 starts with a new guitar riff before Mularoni solo's early in the song before it all goes atmospheric before a new guitar riff heralds a slight down turn in pace with another huge melodic chorus and this is only song 2.
More band interplay mid song with another guitar riff added before more guitar and keys soloing duelling but such a joy not to hear them just trying to outplay each other but only adding to the whole experience.
I hope when the band play live they have the balls to start the gigs with parts one and two together and what a 15 minutes it would be.

Animal is a little less progressive and a bit more rock with an even bigger melodic chorus with Basile again impressing with melodies all over it before a straight ahead mid section that Mularoni simply explodes a guitar solo out of.

Ghost Of Insanity is a balls out rocker with a monumental heavy guitar riff that suddenly drops pace and guest Tom Englund of Evergrey lends his vocal glories to a song that could fit on an Evergrey album.
Tom takes the first verse and Mark the second and their voices work fantastically together and in the chorus they join forces to take the song ever higher.
Mularoni's guitar solo is a lengthy affair starting slowly and building to a fast fingered climax.
More vocal duelling and heavy riffing and Costantino again all over tit with his double bass attack.

Fallen takes the pace up higher still with an incredible drum rhythm and guitar riff that entwine with a slight slowing as Basile's melodic verse kicks in and the chorus that has some excellent backing vocals as the double bass kicks back in.

The Passage has a guitar and bass riff that is interloped with a keys riff that comes out of no where before a slower number that ramps up in the melodic chorus before that keys riff appears again.Second verse it all builds up to a huge high before it comes down for a Mularoni guitar solo with a simple band back up before it starts to build again on Casali's keys solo and it continues to soar back to the main chorus.It will be stunning live with it's light and shade parts with full light rig.

Disguise is a short piano and vocal part with Basile sending it to the stars with a superb vocal performance.

Portrait is another heavy rocker with guitars and drums all over it and Basile excelling in the chorus as it slows slightly before a stop start riff heralds Day Dreamer and another quality track that slows on the chorus with keys higher in the mix.

Dogma sees special guest Michael Romeo from Symphony X on guitars on a rocker with a big driving riff and more double bass drumming with a melodic chorus that sits well with the ferocious pace and the even bigger guitar riff that kicks in mid song before Romeo shows us his undoubted skills with a fast fingered guitar solo that fits in perfectly.

In Sorrow finishes the album with an acoustic guitar piece with Basile's vocal range getting a full work out on a moody atmospheric number.

The Passage is quite simply one of the best cd's you will here in any rock genre this or any other year and will be in many end of year best of list's mine included.