Keeper of Dreams - Taste Smashed to Pieces (2009)

   There have been and always will be bands who are so obsessed by the influence of an exact band or album, that they just trying to play exactly the same.
   About Keeper of Dreams it's easy to tell from the beginning, that they've listened to Death's "Symbolic" 7/24 from morning to evening. The only difference is that they didn't have enough long musical past to go far with technical/progressive themes, so on the side the very familiar and recognizable Chuck Schuldiner styled themes, simpler, mostly thrashy riffs and melodies are assisting. But because or the strong similarity of the sound and vocal style it's not that notable, cause the "Symbolic" nostalgia easily takes the attention, and even unwillingly the listener might focus to figure out from where the exact themes came from. Even though the sign of maximalism and dedication could be definitely sensed in their music, the problem is with similar bands, that their own self-dedication is bonding their hands. "Taste Smashed to Pieces" could be entertaining and enjoyable for similarly "Symbolic" obsessed fans (or for others, who never heard about it), but the too strong and evident influence will never let the band to come out from it's shadow. The other thing is that it's never a good sign if a young band suddenly starts with technical/progressive music. That already suspects a short existence, cause basically progression and technical ambitions are coming with time and experience, and musicians who doesn't have that, might change style or burn out soon. Keeper of Dreams tried the first option to gain wider popularity, but it wasn't very welcome by the small audience that they've gathered in a short time.