Reviews

Given the quality of their debut, it was no surprise that for the follow-up, released in 2010, they had signed to one of the largest labels in the genre. By now the band had been augmented by a bassist, Michael Neumeier, who had joined Dante when they started playing live. This album is basically a continuation of the debut – why change a winning combination? There is bombast, there is a delicacy and emotion, complex arrangements yet also a simplicity to some of what they do. They may have started life at a Dream Theater concert, and indeed they have taken on some of those influences, but they are no way a DT clone. They obviously pay attention to bands such as Porcupine Tree and Yes, as well as some elements of Genesis right up to Neal Morse. Yet again this is a great album, and one that I have enjoyed playing immensely but I did find that this time I felt that there were times when Alexander was struggling. He is a great singer when allowed to be more emotional and controlled such as on slower pieces, but when the band is rocking out he allows himself to push his range and control and it doesn’t always work. That being said, this is an album that I really enjoyed playing, although possibly not quite as much as the debut. But this is still very much a new band, and I hope that we soon get to hear the third instalment of what promises to be a long and fruitful career. If you enjoy prog that knows how to mix it up with slow and fast, emotional and bombastic, then this would be worth searching out.
www.progrockrecords.com

...The music present in Saturnine is quite complex in terms of architecture, mixing the keyboard behavior of the vintage sympho-prog with the guitar and drums prowess and wide array of the technical progressive metal. The tracks portray that in a very progressive way: the tracks are long and fruitful in different stages, melodies, direction and weight; the arrangements are complex and multi-layered; each music visits different states of mind and emotional statuses; there are orchestral tapestries that complement and many times drive the direction of the track... To sum, Dante has released a truly symphonic progressive album, though adding the heaviness and aggressiveness of the metal circles, to increase impact and wideness of their music. They have the prog metal drive of Prymary, Dream Theater and Evergrey but also the contemporary sympho attitude of Sky Architect, Arena and Anima Mundi (note that this album was released prior to the new releases of these two bands), and the respect for the emotional chameleon expression of the 70's sympho. It's like listening to a hybrid of Sky Architect and Dream Theater...
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=31310

...The sound of Dante is best explained by their influences and musical loves - Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and more. This is a band that mixes classic drawn-out progressive melodies, serene hooks, mystical riffs and complex rhythms with flourishes of heavy metal, thrash and straight ahead hard rock. The result is very pleasant on the ears, and all rather epic. The 12 minute 'All My Life' is an album in itself, containing more good music than many entire records. 'Drifting' is a mellow, dreamy number that's perhaps more mood-dependent than the first, but there's no questioning the quality. 'Last', as contrast, is a heavier affair boasting a top speedy riff and cool angry vibe. 'Never Return' starts off like something from an old Metallica album before heading through the 1970s and finishing in a 1980s synth box. It's mad, but it works...
www.rockrealms.com/archive/d/dante_saturnine.php

Dante's second album Saturnine arrives superbly packaged with excellent artwork and some high quality, darkly menacing photography. The cover also informs us that the word Saturnine is from the 15th century meaning anyone born under or influenced astrologically by the planet Saturn. It goes on to say that this would apply to anyone who is cold and steady in mood, slow to act or change, or who is of a gloomy nature or surly disposition. This impressive album reflects that in part with a set that does indeed have a gloomy undercurrent and yet is anything but slow to change...
blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-dante-saturnine

Second album of this intristing band from Germany , is another worthy experience in prog metal field. Named Saturnine from 2010, released not long time ago, in march , Dante keeping the same atmosphere and regular catchy songs like on previous one. They beggind with right foot with the debute who was a very solid album, and continue in same manner, excellent musicianship and good pieces. The album has a little over an hour of music , but manage to capture my attention entirely , specially on instrumental passages whre the keys and rhytmic section shines truly. What I like to this band, one of the most promising prog metal bands from new generation is that they keep the same attitude, they didn't become more heavier just to please more listners, but aswell they didn't become softer to cath a wider auditorium, they remain faithfull to their belifes, making good music and be honest all the time. Some tracks that worth mentioning here are, Never Return - with excellent intro, brilliant guitar riffing and solid druming and the instrumental Modal Acousma , the rest are ok, not really fantastic, little less intristing than before, but ok. I've notice the deep bass line made by Dennis Neumeier, who sounds crunchy and damn good was one of the highlights of the album,
www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3858

...Saturnine picks up soundwise right from where The Inner Circle left off. To be honest, Dante's style is more moody, melodic prog than progressive metal, but they do feature plenty of heavy riffs and barnstorming guitar & keyboard exchanges which is a prerequisite of the genre. The epic opener is full of riffs and solos, but it's the gorgeous keyboard tapestries of Markus Maichel that creates the haunting atmosphere which allows vocalist Alexander Gohs to soar over. The two pair off quite nicely on the dreamy piano led ballad "Drifting", as well as the brooding "Maybe One Day", showing a tender side to the band. If you like the bombast, well, there's plenty of that here, starting with the crushing "Last", a seeting prog-metal beast saturated with bubbling keyboards and crunchy riffs & solos from guitarist Markus Berger. Bassist Michael Neumeier gets in on the action alongside his rhythmic cohort, drummer Christian Eichlinger, on the intricate "Never Return", an adventurous number that mixes symphonic prog, metal, and jazz-fusion into a burning cauldron and spews out a completely new entity. Look for some white-hot solo exchanges later in the song, especially from Berger's guitar and Maichel's blistering organ...
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=9402

...The five-piece is now presenting Saturnine, their second album. The opener is called All My Life, a heavy tune which starts with an instrumental passage. The dark atmosphere soon changes when heavy riffs set in. The guys take you onto a sonic journey, there are slow, melancholy passages next to heavy, but symphonic parts. During the 12+ minute long track everyone gets the chance to shine. The guys know how to keep the balance between showing off skills and support the song which makes it a pleasure to listen to the songs! Piano and vocals lead you into Drifting, a balladesque symphonic tune. Again Dante don't overdo it and offer a catchy tune is just beautiful! With Last they present a powerful metal song which combines progressive sound á la Dream Theater with powerful heavy riffs which reminds me a bit of thrashy Iced Earth.... And singer Alexander Göhs adjusts to the more aggressive sound and partly sings in a NWoBHM-like style. Sounds strange? Well, it's a perfect symbiosis and actually one of the highlights! Another powerful metal track is Never Return, again they combine heavy riffs, symphonic elements and complex passages. There are Savatage-sque parts, too. Dante builds a bridge between different genres and times. A piano ballad you'll get with Maybe One Day, the unobtrusive string arrangement just supports the songs atmosphere. But it's Alexander Göhs expressive vocals which is giving you goose bumps! The following instrumental Modal Acousma is a real treat for fans of complex prog metal, here the guys can show off their skills!..
www.ice-vajal.com/d/CD/dante.htm

With their sophomore effort, Saturnine, German progressive band Dante will probably put prog purists (and elitists) into prog's seventh heaven. Saturnine is bolder, more immense, and even more complex than their debut The Inner Circle. Fortunately, for the uninitiated or sometime prog listener this work isn't too intricate to baffle. But if any volume is close to being so complicated to aurally obtuse. By example, the opener All My Life has many compositional twists and often shifts gears so quickly to cause whiplash. Yet as a whole it sounds good. Conversely, Last delivers on a more pedestrian level with its riff heaviness, strong vocals and vocal arrangements, and qualified melodic catchiness. Then a piece like borrows from early Dream Theater and makes it knottier by those occasional quick shifts. Later, take a deep breath, suspend your credulity, and open your mind because the 19 minute Vanessa is probably the most prophetic and imaginative prog you will hear this year...
www.dangerdog.com/2010-music-reviews/dante-saturnine-review.php

... Second album of this intristing band from Germany , is another worthy experience in prog metal field. Named Saturnine from 2010, released not long time ago, in march , Dante keeping the same atmosphere and regular catchy songs like on previous one. They beggind with right foot with the debute who was a very solid album, and continue in same manner, excellent musicianship and good pieces. The album has a little over an hour of music , but manage to capture my attention entirely , specially on instrumental passages whre the keys and rhytmic section shines truly. What I like to this band, one of the most promising prog metal bands from new generation is that they keep the same attitude, they didn't become more heavier just to please more listners, but aswell they didn't become softer to cath a wider auditorium, they remain faithfull to their belifes, making good music and be honest all the time...
www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=287319

DANTE is a German Progressive Metalband making their debut with this CD titled ‘Saturnine’. The band has an aggressive approach vocally here and there, which might put off some of the fans of the more melodic progmetal style, although on the other hand DREAM THEATER sometimes does the same (METALLICA style) the past 10 years and easily gets away with it. The sound of DANTE’s first CD is impressive and has a major label feeling, like a heavier DREAM THEATER most of the time, although I do feel it is not always as strong as their heroes, because a song like “Last” sounds just OK, but “Never return” on the other hand is sounding very impressive. For a first CD very well done, but I do feel DANTE can deliver an even better album in the future.
strutterzine.angelfire.com/HOTNEWREVIEWS.htm