A new album is out from Spectra. I decided to take a listen with my chicken ears.

Spectra is a Hamilton-based progressive metal band that is making waves in the Toronto Club scene. With this debut album, I am confident they will pick up more progressive fans. Toronto is a city who have spawned Rush and now we are starved for more complicated time signatures. This is where Spectra are picking up the pieces.

The entire album is instrumental with large themes looming all around.  Take the opening track, a soft thoughtful wake up call to a grandiose hard-hitting and high-flying glory ride called- “Solstice”.

This is just the first of many wonderful and complex tracks to keep your mind engaged in a mental pinball game.  They experiment with unique time signatures. Sometimes it feels lumpy and offbeat, and then they can switch it up to bring you into a joy ride down through mountainous terrain.

A piece like “Meridian” has a kind of superhero theme. To me, it feels like watching Spider-Man swinging between buildings. You can feel that flight of fancy with a, “Here I come to save the day”, montage.

“Aurora”, promises to be a huge part of their live show. WIth this album from Spectra, you can practically see this incredible light show going off during this song. I think this band has plans to make it big so they can catch up to their ideas.

With most progressive metal band, they tend to stick to darker and angrier themes, whereas Spectra tend to go for a resplendent and radiant angle of light. They seemed more interested in exploring uplifting themes that having to shove a bunch of dark imagery that is already crowding your mind.

One of my favourite pieces on this CD is “Lost at Sea”, because of the never-ending feeling of drifting away. This sad journey truly makes you feel small and alone. It hints at the latter career of Pink Floyd with the guitar solo being the only lifeline you have left to hold to.

“Wide open field” opens you up with positive possibilities and motivates you to seek out your own space.

“Equinox” Is a real charmer, with its fun and freestyle way of playing. The drummer seems to be having a blast exploring his kit and then let the keyboards in to change direction and create his own space. It is a very warm and inviting. It’s like getting your thoughts lost in a cloud.

We finish off this ride with an absolute Monster. I love this tune, not only because of the sheer size of it, but it reminds me of another artist who makes these sounds magical. I am really hoping this band is influenced by Devin Townsend, because I can feel his presence all over this song.

Spectra are a serious band having fun and if this is their debut, I can’t wait until I begin to hear what they will do next. The Progressive Rock scene has been underground in Toronto for too many years, and it is about time we begin to embrace such amazing musicians rising to the occasion to bring back large, over the top musical monuments.

These fine players make Spectra:

Andrew de Jong: Guitars
Andrew Febbraro: Guitars
Justin Ferrante: Drums, Percussion, Additional Synthesizers
Alyssa Gelata: Bass
Alex McVittie: Keyboards, Synthesizers, Piano, Saxophone

You can hear and buy their debut album here: ▶︎ Places We Only Dream Of | Spectra

Check out their Instagram to keep up with them.