Flor De Loto are undoubtedly the leading exponents of Progressive sounds in Peru, formed in the mid-1990s, they have exported their sound all over the world. The new album, titled “Cosmos,” was released on January 20, 2025 via Oskar Records and contains nine tracks featuring stellar guests on vocals, Ray Alder and Mike DiMeo. The opener “Exodo” is a 1:27-minute intro with flute and atmospheric keyboard sounds that intertwine and accompany us into the following. With “(R)evolucion“’ the band proposes its granitic Folk Prog with accelerations and tempo changes that enrich the sound. The vocal takes us back to the traditional sounds of their country, both in terms of themes and vocal imprinting, with a refrain that stuck in my mind. Interweaving vocal and instrumental parts characterise the structure of this concentrated Rock/Metal energy infused with Folk and engaging melodic passages. When I listen to tracks so full of pathos and with such themes, I always hope a little that things can change, it means that the band has conveyed its message. The title track “Cosmos” is a granitic piece of modern Progressive Rock, with heavy guitar riffs and English vocals. The flute, as always, embellishes the melodies and characterises the sound, allowing the Folk elements to be enhanced. A solid and elaborate rhythm section and overall a powerful and dynamic sound, always intense and full of interesting ideas thanks to the continuous tempo changes. Very interesting is the instrumental section that develops the theme of the song in a constant musical crescendo with a choral sound and soloist inserts that pleasantly accompanies us to the finale. An excellent instrumental track that enhances the Folk side of the band’s sound, “Ahorita Voy,” develops with the woodwinds as protagonists. The intensity increases as the song progresses, incorporating heavier elements in the second half with accelerations in the drumming. A melodic vocal full of pathos in Spanish characterises “Sobrevivire,” a more delicate track in the first part. In a constant musical crescendo, culminating in a very interesting instrumental section with intertwining horns and Andean instruments. An emotional track that enhances the band’s songwriting. We return to more HEavy sounds with “Nuevo Amanecer,” a track reminiscent of Latin Rock sounds, bringing retro atmospheres into a modern and personal context. The union between Folk and Heavy Rock/Metal is well accomplished with an engaging and energetic rhythm section and fine phrasing between keyboards and horns. The riffs are solid and the melodic vocals counterbalance the heavy sounds. The album’s shortest track, “Ecos del Pasado,” is an intense and elaborate passage that emphasises modern folk sounds steeped in rock. The horns drive the sound with percussive drumming, and an excellent interweaving of arpeggios as only in Andean sounds can we hear. A truly intense and very original track, enhancing the band’s compositional and performing technique once again. “Reino del Dolor” shows a more Progressive Folk Metal side of the band with a granitic blend of traditional and modern sounds. The vocals are incisive and passionately interpret the intense lyrics, as always full of meaning. In the middle part, the band develops a prolonged instrumental section with solo interventions by guitar first and wind instruments later, before returning to the vocals and concluding. The album ends with “Crossfire,” the longest track in duration, which opens with a flute and piano intro with dreamy atmospheres. With a very dynamic and intense English vocal and rich instrumental textures that combine the modern sounds of Prog and the band’s Folk touch, the track gently takes us towards the finale, leaving us wanting to listen to this work again in the future. An album that confirms how this band is one of the main ones in the South American Prog scene. Their unmistakable blend of Progressive Rock/Metal and Folk is enhanced through a tracklist that explores the different influences that characterize their unique style. This is a recommended listen for lovers of Folk-contaminated Prog sounds, with rich guitar-winds-keyboard textures, solid rhythm sections and intense vocals, in the style that has made the band great.
Tracklist
01. Exodo (1:27)
02. (R)evolucion (4:37)
03. Cosmos (5:54)
04. Ahorita Voy (5:07)
05. Sobrevivire (4:25)
06. Nuevo Amanecer (4:47)
07. Ecos del Pasado (4:20)
08. Reino del Dolor (5:36)
09. Crossfire (7:31)
Lineup
Alonso Herrera / Vocals, Guitar
Alejandro Jarrin / Bass
Sergio Checho Cuadros / Flute
Alvaro Escobar / Drums
With:
Ray Alder / Vocal (9)
Mike DiMeo / Vocal (3)
