Band:	DZ Project
Album:	The First Projection
Style:	Progressive heavy metal
Release date:	2005

01. The Astral Path To Omniscience
02. Under A Glacial Moonlight
03. Prysma [Instrumental]

Nearly all the bands from Italia that I happen to know are somewhat representative of a refined and meticulous side in metal. DZ Project (ex Deschütz) is no exception. From their site, from the artwork and from the letter I received along with their demo entitled "The First Projection", it clearly shows that those guys care a lot about what they do.

But what do they play? Progressive? I see some of you love that, but many hate prog. Don't worry! DZ Project is not your average progressive band, oh no! I chose this genre cause it may be the less complicated way to describe their style, that they describe as "a style which can identify all the members of the band" ranging from heavy to modern synthesizer sounds leading to a powerful and progressive sound.

Most of the riffs can be classified as heavy/power. They're catchy, and give the songs good rhythm and momentum. The main vocals are growls, not very deep or loud so that they go along very well with some cleaner vocals and electronic voices (especially on "Under A Glacial Moonlight"). Then you have some instrumental passages, including solos. Those aren't just about guitarists showing off. They're actually more about accompanying the rhythm with a melodic layer. It turns to be a real funky break in the first song, "The Astral Path To Omniscience". The lyrics are a bit vague, with kinda epic sci-fi related themes.

This demo is not top-notch. It could have a better production and overall sound, yet it's close to the industry standards, which is not bad for what is only their second demo CD (the first one, "The Last Solid Experience", was released by the end of the year 2000 with a different line-up). If you're searching for bands that don't stick to one scheme or genre, DZ Project is a band you should pay attention to. Their slightly "modern" touch will probably make the difference.