Behind The Veil of Oblivion is the debut hard rock progressive album from the band
Colobar, and this album is rife with intricate composition and phenomenal musicianship.
Colobar is made up of a wide variety of artists with extensive musical backgrounds. The
mastermind behind the project is Angel Angelov, songwriter and producer extraordinaire.
With aid from Konstantin Jambazov on guitars and Carl Sentance on vocals, Colobar
has succeeded in creating a work of musical creativity unrivaled by many. Other artists
featured on Behind The Veil of Oblivion are Emil Kosturkov on drums, Kiril Kirilov on
keys and Radoslav Todorov on piano.
“Change of Ages” is the introductory track and it is quite simply one of the most intricate
pieces of music to be heard. The blazing guitar work is matched note for note by the
hard-hitting rhythm section. The vocals are delivered with a strong confidence and
everything about this piece is polished and professional. Carrying a heavy metal essence,
this progressive rock offering is only the beginning of Colobar’s arsenal. The album’s
title track, “Behind The Veil of Oblivion,” begins with a much slower tempo, carrying
an almost spiritual vibe. The sense of calmness one gets at the beginning of this track is
extraordinary. The instrumentation is skilled throughout this lengthy work and the vocal
harmonizing is excellent. This piece is nearly ten minutes of progressive rock perfection.
“Timeline” is a softer offering, with a more melodic approach. This dramatic track is rife
with stellar keyboard playing, crystal clear guitar work, and clean vocals. Dream Theater
comes to mind while enjoying this song, and the skilled musicianship of everyone
involved with this project shines through with stunning clarity. “Listen” is also a more
melodic track, and perhaps the most artistic one on the album. With a soft elegance,
Sentance’s vocals are seductive and the graceful guitar work is simply enthralling. The
rhythm section also gets a chance to shine brightly here and this track is brimming with
creativity and artistic vision.
Behind The Veil of Oblivion is a journey into musical enlightenment, and it continues
with “Secrets,” a faster-paced progressive tale of whaling guitars and grinding chords.
This track is a study in the intricate and flawless method of composition employed by
this band. The music of Colobar is highly technical with regards to melodic placement
and overall structure, which is evidenced within all of the offerings on the album, but
more so within this offering in particular. “The Way Out” begins with a dramatic flair
and a haunting melody that will send chills down the spine. The lyrics are likewise laden
with a haunting beauty, made even more so by Sentance’s graceful delivery. This piece
carries an edge that has a bit of darkness to it and the grinding guitar riffs are offset nicely
by the light keyboard work.
“Can’t Feel” is the album’s closer, and in keeping with Colobar’s style of music, it
is artistic and visionary and exquisite. Progressive rock is a genre that tends to go
overlooked in many circles of the music scene, and this is unfortunate. It is one of
the most creative genres of music out there and Behind The Veil of Oblivion is on par
with some of the greatest progressive rock albums of all time. The skill with which the
songs are written and performed is fascinating, not to mention the talented and complex
composition of each piece. Colobar has reached new plateaus with their debut album and
the music world will wait hungrily for their follow up effort.
Reviewed by Rhonda Readence
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
