Srdjan Brankovic - Expedition: Delta (2008)ProgRock Records

From time to time we are attacked by supergroups's stuffs, but no many stand out and can enchant us. "Expedition: Delta" is a Serbian project led by one of the most outstanding young guitar virtuosos, Srdjan Brankovic (rhythm, solo and acoustic guitars, additional drums; Psychoparadox, Alogia). Apart from his leadership and amazing compositional talent, there were invited many first-class musicians: Nikola Mijic (vocals; Alogia, Dreyelands), Gary Wehrkamp (solo guitar; Shadow Gallery, Explorers Club, Star One, Amaran's Plight), Sabine Edelsbacher (vocals; Edenbridge, Missa Mercuria, Beto Vazquez Infinity, Angra), Vladimir Djedovic (keys, programming), Erik Norlander (solo keyboard; Lana Lane, Aina, Joshua, Rocket Scientists), Alex Argento (Marco Sfogli, Joop Wolters), Irina Kapetanovic (vocals; Irina & Storm), Richard Andersson (solo keyboard; Space Odyssey, Majestic, Adagio, Silver Seraph, Evil Masquerade, Iron Mask, Time Requiem), Santiago Dobles (solo guitar; Cynic, Rooky, Aghora), Andrea De Paoli (solo keyboard; Shadows of Steel, Vision Divine, Labyrinth), Alexandra Jankovic (vocals; Vivo Band), Rene Merkelbach (solo keyboard; Ayreon, Gorefest), Joost van den Broek (solo keyboard; Galexia, Sun Caged, Ayreon, The Supremacy, Sphere of Souls, Star One, After Forever), Torsten Roehre (solo keyboard; Silent Force), D. Madkick (drums), Vivien Lalu (solo keyboard; Hubi Meisel, Shadrane), Borislav Mitic (solo guitar), Miroslav Brankovic (solo guitar; Alogia, Psychoparadox), Ivan Vasic (bass; Alogia, Retribution) and Mikkel Henderson (solo keyboard; Circus Mind, Evil Masquerade).

If I get such an extraordinary personnel in the credits, I want to get equally extraordinaire stuff! And what did we get? I am lost for words, since "Expedition: Delta" is a mixture of progressive virtuosity and pop music! As you can guess, it is extremely difficult to join hit tunes with instrumental mastery and complexity. It is not strange that only cleverest musicians like Srdjan Brankovic and his buddies are able to gain such a great result. Moreover, here is a beautiful male singing coupled with wonderful female voices and additionally sunk in a multi-mooded layer of progressive virtuosity. A high-technical moments are contrasted against melodic vocal lines and backed by excellent keyboard and guitar solos.

"Expedition: Delta" is the album with an accessible progressive-fuelled compositions that should propel Srdjan and the rest of his crew to the top. They produced cosmic progressive pop metal armed with perfect arrangements, brilliant ideas and excellent performance. Undoubtedly, it is one of the greatest progressive metal albums in the history of the genre!!! I am totally delighted!!!