The “special guest”/all-star project is a big part of the prog/metal scene these days. At its best, the concept lets musicians get their ideas out without needing a band setting to make that a reality. Still, I had to roll my eyes at the cover to the self-titled Expedition Delta project from Srdjan Brankovic, which features not just a little sticker announcing his collaborators, but a permanent, central design element proclaiming the participation of Erik Norlander and Gary Wehrkamp, “and many others…” Frankly, I was expecting very little from the album upon seeing that travesty, and I really do hope that the artist himself had nothing to do with that aspect of the artwork, because all it does is to sell Brankovic’s efforts short.
A funny thing happened, though, when I actually sat down to listen to Expedition Delta. Despite the dread, I found myself nodding along, grinning on occasion, really enjoying what I was hearing. Expedition Delta is prog metal, but it plays on the lighter edge of that sandbox, both in terms of the music, as well as having great, pop friendly hooks mixed in with the showy keyboard solos, guitar fireworks, and soaring vocals.
The opening track, Asunder Hearts, sets the tone for the entire album, hitting all of these points, as well as featuring great guest female vocals. Fading Images continues in this vein, lending a glossy, pop sheen to the album that verges on cheesy but manages to stay on the good side of that line.
The first foray into more typical prog metal fare comes on the third track, Self Abstract, which begins with a moody, introspective keyboard line. The tone remains dark throughout the first half of the song, with Brankovic adopting a tougher vocal style. The song lightens up to a slight degree just past the halfway point, with the melodies recalling "Hemispheres”/“Permanent Waves”-era Rush.
Another prog metal highlight comes in the form of, Flight With the Mind, featuring Shadow Gallery guitarist Gary Wehrkamp. A few Dream Theater-style riffs breaks out of a gritty underpinnings, before Wehrkamp shows off for the audience.
Fans of Brankovic’s pop sensibilities need not worry, though, as he provides a couple more tracks that might stand a shot on the radio. Move On, is a fantastically catchy track that brings a couple of metallic flourishes to liven things up. Not Too Late, takes a laid back approach, really showcasing Brankovic’s vocals. Between these two track, though, lies the best bit of music on the disc, the all too short instrumental Planets. Assisted by keyboardist Erik Norlander, Brankovic unleashes some deliciously pompous moments of fun.
The last two tracks on the CD are also the longest, which gives Brankovic a chance to spread his composer’s wings and try and mesh all the tools he has at his command. Reach for the Light succeeds better than the album closer, It Needs a Happy Ending, but by that point, you’ll probably already be convinced of Expedition Delta’s merits. It’s an enjoyable disc, one that could have succeeded even without the endless parade of guest artist listed in the liner notes.
