BARAKA - SHADE OF EVOLUTION - 2008

Tokyo band BARAKA [not to be confused with several other like-named groups] was formed in 1997 by Shin ICHIKAWA(bass,vocals), Issei TAKAMI (guitar,vocals) and Max HIRAISHI(drums). Boasting a variety of styles including jazz, blues, funk and progressive rock, the band has released many albums since 1999 (usually titled after the band). Their seventh album, 'Baraka VII', was their first all instrumental release.

The trio is infamous in its native Japan, having had over three hundred gigs on the island. They have also toured extensively around the globe, from Thailand to Toronto, and even attended the Prog'Sud International Progressive Rock Festival at Marseille in May, 2006.

Musically, BARAKA freely mixed lounge jazz and loud rock in a way that resembles metal more than fusion. This hard rock grounding, plus a couple of spacey keyboards occasionally mixed in for good measure, might make the listener think of a jazzier, subtler, more instrumentally minded RUSH. An excellent band for fans of metal and fusion alike.
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