Pinn Dropp – For the Love of Drama | Progressive Rock Central.com

Pinn Dropp, is a Polish progressive rock band who have released their latest album, For the Love of Drama, through OSKAR Records on August 31^st, of this year. The band is supported with excellent public relations from Bad Dog Promotions, in the UK.

Pinn Dropp started as a concept created by guitarist and composer Piotr Sym, who wanted to find a musical outlet to express his love of progressive music. After an intensive period of writing, in 2015, Piotr teamed up with drummer and composer Dariusz Piwowarczyk, who helped him to create the definite shape of the Pinn Dropp sound. The search for a line-up resulted in a brief collaboration with vocalist Krzysztof Salapa who was replaced, in the spring of 2017, by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mateusz Jagiello. Bassist Pawel Wolinski joined the band in February 2018.

Pinn Dropp, is made up of members: Mateusz Jagiello, on lead vocals; Piotr Sym, on guitars; Paweł Woliński, on bass; Mirek Skorupski, on keyboards; and Kuba Mikulski, on drums.

Pinn Drop’s discography includes: Live in Łódź (live from 2022 Marillion Weekend Poland), from 2022; Calling from Some Far Forgotten Land, from 2021, Dreamscape of Silence, from 2019; Perfectly Flawed, from 2018; Human Corporate Machine, from 2018; and PD/EP – Re:Verse, Re:Treat, Re:Unite, from 2017.

The “First Steps,” are the opening for the album. And you probably can hear a pin drop on the beach; as the light keyboard orchestration, gulls, ocean waves, grinding rocks/sand, and the bells ring in the distance. The light keyboard sound reminds me a little of the opening of German band, Sylvan’s “Artificial Paradise,” the epic song. Deep breathing follows with the bells ringing a warning.

That warning bell, is a warning that something “Unholy,” is coming. And on this track, you cannot hear that pin drop anymore. Instead, you hear the building thunder of heavy metal music. But they start with cool, spacey synthesizer sounds, then they add electric guitars, bass, and drums; that eventually take over the soundscape. The music is great, full of excellent guitar soloing, bass, and drums. It sounds a little like, maybe 1980s Van Halen, at times. Mateusz Jagiello sings, “The desert flows through my veins. I am the setting sun. I am a god profaned.” This also does sound a little like Sylvan’s heavier songs, like something that you would have heard on Force of Gravity. Mateusz Jagiello’s voice, however, sounds a little like David Coverdale, during his time with Deep Purple.

No, “Point of No Return,” is not the Kansas’ classic. It starts with some “Tubular Bells,”- like keyboards, before the guitar, bass, and drums enter the soundscape. Then, suddenly, a momentary keyboard entry that sounds like 1970s Queen. Then, it is gone. Bummer. Wish that had lasted longer. Mateusz Jagiello sings this heavier metal song, full of great keyboards and guitar innovations. On this song, he almost sounds a little like Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins; while the music takes on some Rush-like sound elements. An interesting and different combination. More of a metal-like rocker, than progressive rock.

After all these metal songs, they slow things down with an almost Fleetwood Mac rhythm, (complete with strings), opening, on “Recycled Feelings.” Mateusz Jagiello brings out his inner Marco Glühmann, (lead singer of Germany’s Sylvan). He does an amazing job sounding almost exactly like Marco on this song, complete with piano strings and the elements of some of your favorite Sylvan songs. My favorite song on the album. Wish they had more songs like this on the album. (Yes, I am a Sylvan fan).

Crickets, owls, wind, evil whispers, and fire make-up “They Are Here.” A short, less than a minute sound-effects, pause in the album.

“Logismoi,” or evil and tempting thoughts, is another rocker, full of galloping guitars, bass, and drums. Mateusz Jagiello sings, “The eye is watching. I promised I won’t bite. Once again, I’ll make you mine. But my hands still reach for more.” A song about the ill-fated chase of material things and corruption. Mateusz Jagiello sings, “Vainglory, fore the pride. And pride before the fall. Brace me for you. The land of Judah is burning. And the tunes are dancing to a vibrant flame.” The theme seems to be that we are unaware of our own destruction. The lead electric metal guitar solos are terrific. The music is much more like metal than progressive rock.

“L’ Illumination,” opens with some very cool keyboard/synthesizers, and electric guitar. The drums and bass join in as the Rush-like soundscape builds. This song describes “the act of spreading false, malicious stories about someone in a hushed or subtle way.” It “captures how slander (calumny) can be more insidious when spread through whispers rather than through loud, open declarations.” Mateusz Jagiello sings about how Man’s path, “is straying. Lord, can you hear? Away from grace, our pain sincere illuminate.” He kind of raps some of the vocals. He mentions Montesquieu, within the lyrics. (“He was a French judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher. He is the principal source of the theory of the separation of powers.”) The deepest song on the album lyrically. It seems to embrace revolution and spends a lot of time on symbols and words from the French Revolution; including the role of the guillotine. At times, this song seems to be a criticism of the way we are walking into a trap of authoritarianism, and away from the true freedom we have been fortunate to have enjoyed for so long. Jagiello also mentions Augustine’s teachings, (“of Man’s need for Diving Grace, and the gift of the Lord, to allow Man’s free will.”) So, it maybe tries to cover too many directions. But I imagine the path is to refrain from excepting authoritarianism. However, they end the song with the French poem called “Tristesse,” by Alfred de Musset, which translates to “Sorrow”. “Passerby, don’t cry over my fate, if I lived you would be dead.” The narrative does get confused, but you have to respect their attempt to dive deep into literature and the meaning of life.

The title track, “For the Love of Drama,” seems to try to explain what has come before. It is a long, over 11-minute song, full of lyrics which continuously degrade a deceiving man and his followers. It is a slow, deliberate song filled with guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums. The music far exceeds the lyrics, which at times get tedious and confusing, on this one. The guitar playing is absolutely wonderful at times.

“Hugag,” is a song about (“a large, moose-like animal with jointless legs, preventing it from lying down, and an elongated upper lip that hangs down to the ground. These unique features mean the Hugag cannot lie down to sleep, so it must lean against a tree and is vulnerable to hunters who notch the tree to make it fall.”) This song is full of beautiful electric guitar and keyboards. This may be their own salute to Genesis’ “Squonk.” Or it may just be a story of appreciating everyone, despite their outwardly looks. Mateusz Jagiello returns to his Marco Glühmann vocal delivery, and the keyboards and drums rule the day on this one. The electric guitar soloing is wonderful, near the end, with the drums pounding.

“Last Footsteps,” opens with soft piano, and soft walking across grass. Birds can be heard singing in the distance. And a stream flows softly nearby. Violins play, like a song from “The Shire,” sections of the movie, The Lord Of the Rings. This is a close to three-minute instrumental closer, that is a perfect way to say goodbye.

Pinn Dropp’s For the Love of Drama, is an album of very good music. If you are a Sylvan fan you will probably enjoy this album in its entirety. The lyrics attempt some very deep and important concepts, if you like that kind of a challenge. This band should be much more well known, because their music is dynamic and challenging. Perhaps with the help of Bad Dog Promotions, they too will gain more fans and followers in the future. I will be back for more, and I hope you will give Pinn Dropp’s For the Love of Drama,” a chance to be heard.

For the Love of Drama, was produced, recorded and programmed by Mirek Skorupski at Nexus Studio in Warsaw, Poland. “Unholy,” bass and guitars recording engineer: Michał Bogdan. Orchestrations by Mirek Skorupski. Mixed and mastered by Robert Szydło. Cover art concept: Piotr Sym, Paweł Woliński and Magdalena Tararuj. Cover artwork: Magdalena Tararuj and Cezary Skoczeń. Digipack and booklet design: Magdalena Tararuj.

Album Track List: