Special Providence
was formed by Zoltán CSÉRY (keyboards) and Ádám MARKÓ (drums) who both graduated from Kobánya Music Studio. Attila FEHÉRVÁRI (bass) - who has replaced Istvan BATA, the original bass player appearing in all their releases - and Márton KERTÉSZ (guitar, since 2006), graduates of the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest complete the line-up. Besides SPECIAL PROVIDENCE, the members of the band take part in other groups and projects in Hungary as songwriters, studio musicians or orchestrators. They released their debut album in 2007 titled "Space Café" and then were invited to tour with the JEFF ANDREWS TRIO. In December 2008 they released the 2nd album titled "Labyrinth". The band has performed in well-known festivals mainly around continental Europe. The label Musea started to distribute the band's albums in 15 countries since 2010, while in March of the same year they released their first DVD entitled "Something Special". The sound of the band is based on a highly virtuosic blend of jazz rock/fusion and traditional progressive metal and should appeal to fans of both genres.

"The first thing to strike me while listening to 'Soul Alert' was the refined skill of the band. Although the often open-ended instrumentation takes several listens to warm up to, Special Providence hits a nice middle ground between technical showmanship and emotional energy. Think Dream Theater when they're not trying to level a small city with speed, and there's a good impression of what Special Providence is going for in their music. Pair that with a crisp sense of production, and 'Soul Alert' sounds as professional as any album you might hear in progressive music nowadays.

Barring the two main ingredients that Special Providence make use of in their sound, there was also a slight dimension of electronica that made for a catchy add-on. Although most of the album focuses on the musicianship and arrangement over melody, the standout track 'Lazy Boy' has a ridiculously catchy theme; a simple melody made memorable by a clever use of electronic sounds and pseudo- dance rhythms. Although 'Soul Alert' at times feels a little longwinded for its often indulgent musicianship, hearing that catchy motif reprise on the album's last track makes for an incredibly effective finale. As a final surprise, Special Providence wait until the last track to offer some vocals; a higher-register singing that emphasizes the melody. Although it feels a little awkward to hear vocals after an hour of instrumental wandering, it makes for a pretty interesting, albeit brief twist in the band's sound. Of course, if you're not a fan of the exploratory, 'wandering' experience that jazz of this style offers, 'Soul Alert' may appear inaccessible. For its most-part scarcity of standout melody, 'Soul Alert' does take a while to enjoy, but if they had not already; Special Providence demonstrate here that they are one of the most promising bands in metal fusion today. (Conor Fynes)