Band:	DGM
Album:	Momentum
Style:	Progressive power metal
Release date:	March 26, 2013
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Reason [feat. Russell Allen]
02. Trust
03. Universe
04. Numb
05. Pages
06. Repay
07. Chaos [feat. Jorn Viggo Lofstad]
08. Remembrance
09. Overload
10. Void
11. Blame

For a band like DGM momentum is essential. Their band name was taken from the initials of founding members Diego Reali, Gianfranco Tassela, and Maurizio Pariotti who have since departed from the line-up. Momentum is what has carried the band on despite such losses and they continue to deliver another set of melodic progressive metal of the catchiest kind in Momentum. A fitting title for what should garner the attention they deserve.

Perpetually in motion their music is progressive in the sense that it proceeds in a clearly defined direction. While said direction is of a generic homogeneity given its tight focus on musicianship it works astonishingly well to instill variance within its parameters. Generic progressive metal seems like an oxymoron but is thoroughly expressed in the style of DGM. It falls within that technically mindful kind of prog that Dream Theater has come to signify and sounds most similar to Symphony X.

Yet of this kind of progressive metal there is no finer representative than DGM who continue to write some of the most straightforward yet irresistible progressive metal available. Each virtuoso handles their respective instruments with undeniable talent and precision, which creates the drive behind their sound. Each track falls within a similar scope and compositional structure and each note with the same careful consideration of placement as a row of dominoes, like those which feature on the album cover. As each domino falls you know exactly what it is and what it's doing yet the particular paths in which DGM have lined them up are engaging to witness.

The most interesting avenues the album takes are manifested in the vocal work of Mark Basile, as well as guest Russel Allen in the opener "Reason." With hooks aplenty to be found in the exceptional guitar work alone each track is given enough of a differing approach to keep a constant level of interest, Viggo Lofstad of Pagan's Mind contributes to such an end in "Chaos."

Basile's voice makes things very memorable with his expressive delivery despite the uniformity of style within which he performs. The drumming, keyboards, and bass are all performed to a high standard and given ample space to flesh out the album in equal measure. Distinguishable features scattered throughout the tracks aid in making each one more identifiable from the rest, such as the symphonic backdrop of "Universe", the soft touch of "Repay" and the near neoclassical rendition of rapid riffs in the thoroughly Symphony X-styled "Overload."

Well performed with an excellent mixing this is an album which is best suited to the prog fan with a taste for metal of the eloquently streamlined kind.