Carpe Nota (2012)
Carpe Nota, a rock band from the Philadelphia area, released its debut album this year. Even though they are categorized as progressive rock, their sound is truly hard rock. Two of the band members describe Carpe Nota on their band’s website as an instrumental hard rock band with strong progressive rock influences. Clearly, when the keyboards dominate the pieces, the progressive rock side of the band surfaces, with creative atmospheres and solos. When guitars rule, it’s pretty much straight ahead hard rock.
The line-up includes Dan Pluta on keyboards, Pete Rubinetti on guitars, Ken Sundling on bass; and Phil Derenbecher on drums, percussion.
I’m not a fan of hard rock riffs in progressive rock. They muddy the sound and always drown out the other instruments and make the music more simplistic. I’ll keep proposing my plan to create two mixes for these type of albums: a progressive rock mix without the hard rock, and a hard rock mix.
Carpe Nota’s musicians are skillful and their music has great potential. At this time, the band’s sound will appeal to hard rock fans.
Carpe Nota will be performing at The Rusty Nail in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on May 5th, 2012 (Prog Cinco De Mayo), at 9:00 pm, along with Philadelphia heavy metal band 2ndOrder.
Listen to samples and MP3s:
Buy the CD from the band:
Carpe Nota will also be appearing at the Sellersville Theater, on May 10th, in Sellersville PA, opening for Dutch prog band, Knight Area.