I recently reviewed the debut album, Moving Forward, by Coventry outfit Vamoosery. It is a work which has garnered a lot of attention and well-deserved praise in the progressive rock world, and hot on the heels of that fine release comes Pause/Reflect from K.A.B., the brainchild of the Vamoosery drummer, Kevin Button who describes himself as a melancholic maverick.

First things first, and that is to state that there is far more to Button than simply being a fine drummer. On this album, he takes lead vocal duties, guitars, sequencing, synths, mellotron, organ, percussion, bass guitar & synth, vibraphones. Yes, he is somewhat annoyingly talented. His bandmates help here, with Sheridan White handling backing vocals, Joel Julian contributing guitars work, and Rich Taylor some backing vocals, in addition to a host of other guests. You can listen to this work at https://kabmusic1.bandcamp.com/album/pause-reflect

The album is an interesting mix of influences from the psych, via prog, to the downright heavy. There is a theme of the protagonist yearning for deeper meaning within his life and then a chance encounter with a higher power leading to a journey beyond his self. It is, therefore, nothing if not ambitious and regular readers of mine will know how much I like that.

So, off we go with a discussion of six original pieces of music (there are also two single edits of Break These Chains & Never Said). We start with Pause. Reflect. Transform. The official video below will hopefully give you the same sense of anticipation I had for the remainder of the album upon listening to this, because as an appetizer, this is as good as it gets, full of mystery, fascinating sounds, some great guitar and keys work, and more than a sense of foreboding, despite the chains coming undone before the track explodes into a mightily loud modern day hymn. Very, very good indeed.

Break These Chains directly follows. Lyrically, it talks about the need to break the chains, looking for something more to life than what we have in modern society, feelings I am sure will be shared by many reading this. The paradox of modern life is that in this country, never have we had so many tangible products to make our lives easier or better, but societally we seem to be less happy than ever. The piece itself is another slow burner. The vocals are very good, the guitars chug along, building in intensity as we progress and feature some strong soloing riffs, and it is a very effective slab of progressive metal with some soaring keys, wonderful vocal harmonies, and a deeply accessible groove to it.

Hypocrites is up next, talking about the darkness in us all and asking the question whether we are all vipers in our richness, hypocrites? As it happens, I don’t believe that we are – there is a world of difference between the narcissists who control our lives and the foibles we display, in the main anyway. The spoken reference at the start to being a modern-day Pharisee is interesting. The music provides for a sense of post punk rage, especially in the “judge not, lest we be judged” segment and there are some satisfying riffs in the instrumental passage.

The Prisoner’s Voyage is very interesting, certainly lyrically, referencing the need to break with our old life and to end the voyage we are on as the eponymous subject of the song. It is the longest track here at just over nine minutes long, and the ambition displayed is exceptional. I have embedded it below for you, and I think you will enjoy the changing moods, from anthemic to deeply thoughtful and reflective. Some of the keyboard work by Nicola Nicholson really is outstanding, Button provides for some intricate guitar fretwork, whilst Joel Julian’s solo is wonderfully powerful, and the whole track is strongly progressive in its roots, but thoroughly modern in its execution. A joy to listen to.

Generation seems a cry for generational change in attitudes, something I regularly say to my son given the cock ups rife in my generations handling of affairs – in fact, lyrically, this is not dissimilar to much of what a certain J Anderson has been addressing for many years. Change must come from below and with fresh minds and eyes. I think this track should be a single, the vocal harmonies especially being incredibly catchy. It is embedded below. I really enjoy the final minute which expands so well.

Never Said closes the album aside from the single edits, and this is again interesting in its “self v self” overarching theme, the battle within, and it is a rollocking denouement to proceedings with a modern independent rock feel to it, and as close as the album comes to the type of underground hard rock produced in America in recent years, so again something refreshingly different.

In my review of the Vamoosery album, I referred to the amount of talent inherent within the participants, and Button on this work merely stamps that with further authority. This album should not be considered a “companion piece” to Moving Forward, because Pause/Reflect is a work which absolutely stands on its own two feet. It is a very satisfying album, and I thoroughly recommend it to you.