Reviews

...One highlight, though, is the ten-minute closing track "Time Must Have a Stop." The song contains what are perhaps the best elements of the band: a strong focus on the atmosphere of the track and a greater focus on progression and unexpected changes. While it still lacks anything truly impressive in terms of instrumentation, it shows what this band may be capable of in the future...
www.progressivemelodies.com/2008/08/votum-time-must-have-stop-mini-review.html

Ukranian review
rock-kingdom.com.ua/forum/recenzii/2657-votum-time-must-have-stop-2008-a.html

Polish review
www.mlwz.ceti.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2068&Itemid=26

Votum was formed in 2003 and have performed regularly in clubs in Warsaw and other places in Poland. Really, why in the world would they... oh, it's their actual homeland, my bad, my bad. For the first minute of opener, "Me In The Dark", I thought this was just another progressive rock/metal band. After the first minute I started noticing a complexity and emotional expression, which had little to do with prog, rather than just atmospheric and very moody metal. You can simplify things by saying, there's some fast progressive stuff with lots of rhythm changes, and slow stuff like the kind Type O'Negative or Veni Domine would do. "Time Must Have A Stop" is sort of a concept album focused on madman turning his vision into reality, a crippled soul who has found a way to release his urge. It's basically a dark story of obsessive craving to be loved of perverse affection that leaves the main characters both physically and emotionally scarred and leads into gloomy spaces of their mind. It's basically like any friday night down-town at the local hut, huh? A very professional record I'd say. Very crafted musicians with clear ideas about how to perform their material at their very best. They have a strong vocalist in Maciej Kosinski (hardly any accent in this singing voice) and a keyboardist (Zbigniew Szatkowski) who knows how to keep things atmospheric and suitable to the whole sound picture of this perverted little story.
www.rockunited.com/reviews2009_01_03.htm

Polish review
www.muzyka.pl/recenzje/pokaz/193/votum_time_must_have_a_stop.html

...There are eight tracks on Time Must Have a Stop that run from 4:28 to 10:50 with most of the others in the 6-minute range. The music itself is unmistakably in the prog-metal category, the guitars are ever-present providing the crunchy drive. That said, whereVotum distinguish themselves are with some varied arrangements. Many of the tracks like “The Pun” [5:09] allow for not only the twin guitar melee but leave room at times for more mellow sections that build tension or provide a kind of musical relief. The other thing you’ll notice regarding the instrument usage and production is that Votum create a BIG sound, most noticeable on “Passing Scars” [4:28]. They create a grand and majestic, almost anthemic feel in their music. Votum has a dedicated keyboardist and certainly you hear a variety of keyboard sounds sprinkled throughout although it rarely takes a prominent role, it’s more a solid support, providing atmosphere, strings or synth pads. The closest it comes to standing out would be the piano styled opening of “Train Back Home” [6:02]. And I guess that’s a stylistic element worth noting, that is that Votum do provide some sonic ups and downs in their music. There may be more aggressive moments but they’re not afraid to pull back and mellow out a bit from time to time...
www.jerrylucky.com/reviews%20u-z_008.htm

"Time Must Have a Stop" is a strong and interesting debut from Polish act Votum. Not a flawless production, but one with few if any general weak points to it. The massive guitar sound used may alienate some fans of progressive rock though, and although there are some innovative features to this outing I suspect that this is a creation that first and foremost will have a strong appeal for a metal audience, with fans of non-progressive metal just as likely to appreciate this effort as those who prefer the progressive variety.
www.progressor.net/review/votum_2008.html

...My vote for best newcomer of 2008 could well go to Poland this year. I picked up on this little gem following a series of strong recommendations from reliable sources and it has not disappointed at all. Indeed in many ways it has exceeded the expectations generated by the many positive comments I read before I took the plunge. Comparisons to fellow countrymen Riverside were the common theme for the initial recommendations but having spent some time with these eight tracks, I’d go much more in the direction of Sweden and the esteemed Wolverine. The melancholic, reflective, somewhat dreamy tone to the melodies and instrumentation, alongside the often delicate delivery of vocalist Maciej Kosinski, brings clear echoes to me of Stefan Zell and his cohorts. The contrast provided by sudden bursts of riffage and the use of growls (albeit on only one track here) are other similarities...
www.dprp.net/reviews/200855.php#votum

French reviews
www.progressia.net/?rub=chroniques&idchronik=1568

...Number 2 it is clearly, plainly evident that here in this lineup are some incredibly talented band members. The voice of Maciej Kosinski is sensational. In the upper octaves he can hold his own against any vocalist that comes to mind. The keyboards are played superbly, the drum line is always dead on, and the guitars of Adam Kaczmarek and Alek Salamonik are about as good of a twin guitar team as one could hope to hear. And lastly this music is top notch; the artistry can be heard for days. It is dark, affecting and emotional and draws you into the music. And that in and of itself is a rare find. Categorically a CD that lovers of the dramatic will find strangely appealing, for it is huge in its sound, but written intelligently and from opening bars to last it will keep you interested, and wanting to hear more. Votum has done themselves proud, and any band who deserves a rightful comparison to Redemption, Vanden Plas or Dream Theater is certainly on the right track.
www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2009/jan09/Votum%20-%20Time%20Must%20Have%20a%20Stop.php

German review
www.heavy-metal.de/?id=13307

French review
www.soilchronicles.fr/chronique.php?idc=866

...The tracks which are on the album are simple yet never too-accessible. The music is very melodic, moody and there are a few moments of pure beauty throughout the album. It’s a good and pleasant album, but with few highlights. “The Hunt Is On” is the track that takes the listeners into a more different sound. Here you are able to hear a growling and evil voice together with the more emotional and soft voice of Maciej. There are no death-riffs here, but only the dark and soft atmospheres like Opeth’s Damnation. The rest of the musicians do a great job, especially the two guitarists. The vocals are clear and in some of the tracks you can hear the sorrow in his voice...
www.metal-revolution.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.1916

I must say that I am impressed with the recent growth of the Polish progressive rock and metal scene. This upgrade of the Polish progressive rock and metal scene is not a big secret that only those who dwell in dark arcs know and certainly the ProgRock Records scouters made a thorough research before ending to the young sextet Votum. I think that this is one of the most metal releases under the brand of ProgRock and this is definitely welcomed, especially since this choice is totally successful. Votum's debut is a very powerful entry in the world of modern progressive metal. The Polish band creates a splendid version of sensitive and powerful progressive metal with a lot of dark influences, especially in the lyrical section. While someone would think that their country fellows Riverside or Porcupine Tree would mark their sound, Votum are nearer to the side of the Swedish masterminds Wolverine and the Australian underrated Vauxdvihl. Yet the elements in their music are even more diverse. Fates Warning, Pain of Salvation and definitely Opeth are some of their influences (check "Look at Me Now", "Away" and "The Hunt is on" respectively), but though most of the above mentioned bands are of European origin, somehow their music tends to sound with a US perspective. I guess that this occurs due to Maciej Kosinski, who goes often high to the pitch scale. Undoubtedly this turns for the benefit of the band and his performance enhances great tracks, like the opening "Me in the Dark" and the single "The Pun". ..
www.metalperspective.com/reviews/votum.php

This Polish band is not traditional Progressive Metal in the sense that they are not over the top musicians that enjoy vast displays of challenging musician interplay as one would expect from say a band like Dream Theater, that being considered, this is a band that plays a moody, almost brooding music, with a lot of atmosphere, nice clean vocals, with the occasional dirty ones, with many interludes of peaceful and sentimental passages. Drawing from more of a Gothic sound, they have a quiet meets heavy thing going on...
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=27717

...Going for quality over song number with eight strong compositions, the listener will find there is ample cool metal to be unearthed. Time Must Have A Stop has a fitting spectrum of music, with calmer times to those on the buoyant fine metal rocker "Look at Me Now", the growls on this number are quite the complementary addition. "Men In The Dark" commences peacefully before the heaviness takes hold. All those involved have stepped up with very pleasing performances on vocals, guitars, bass and keys, without being over the top and just playing what's needed. Drummer Adam Lukaszek adds some very nice touches with fills and kick patterns on this album, instead of just being a time keeper applying a straight beat. Time Must Have A Stop radiates atmosphere, Votum obviously put considerable effort into this department...
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=7346

Not to many bands can say that they have produced a master stroke on the first time out but in my opinion Votum can. Time Must Have A Stop combines the best elements of prog rock into its own twisted vision and with this, Votum cannot be stopped. Imagine if you melded early Queensryche, Awaken The Guardian era Fates Warning and early Dream Theater and you have Votum. This 8 track debut for this Polish outfit has no boundaries but yet does not stray to far outside the elements. The guitars are in attack mode but at the same time add texture and feel and fuel Maciej Kosinski’s over the top vocals. Keyboards are a pro and con for me. I feel that some bands use them as a crutch but not here. The keys, sublimely played by Zbigniew Szatkowski, add the much needed atmosphere and tone of the record, the feel that sends this into a Pink Floydish type realm with stunning results. Adam and Alek are phenomenal guitarists, playing off of each other but not in the way of each other with chugging riffs and ethereal leads that speak of seasoned pros. Bartek and Adam’s rhythm seeps into your brain, lifting the record up and sending it into your senses. I could talk about the tracks, like the stand out Me In The Dark or Passing Scars, some of the darkest material to pass my speakers in a while but you the listener must make your own interpretations. I will say Train Back Home is a Number One single on any metal or prog chart in the world if this was indeed a perfect world. The keys and vocals taking the listener on a soothing trip that you do not want to come back from. Atmosphere is everything and that is what this album is possessing. A dark, brooding atmosphere for which any metal fan wants to be under. Years from Now, music fans will look back at this album the same way they Look at Dark Side of the Moon, Images And Words or Awaken The Guardian, with breath taking awe and words about how THIS record affected their lives. Album of the year, hands down.
metalexiles.com/main/page_features_r__votum.html

German review
www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_8975.html#14316

Hungarian review
www.passzio.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14097

Hungarian review
www.femforgacs.hu/kritika/980/Votum_Time_Must_Have_a_Stop_2008

French review
www.musicwaves.fr/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=3043

French review
www.progressia.net/index.php4?rub=chroniques&idchronik=1568

...The band tells me this is a story of “a madman turning his vision into reality, a crippled soul who has found a way to release his urge, a woman effected by his horrendous art...becoming his unwilling companion”. The atmosphere is painted ever darker when they add, “this is a story of obsessive craving to be loved, of perverse affection that leaves them both physically and emotionally scarred and heads deep into gloomy spaces of their minds”. Interested? You bet. So do they deliver? Votum has definitely scored with their desire to create atmosphere. The idea, or dare I say concept, would fall horribly flat if they failed in any way to create labyrinths of darkness within their music. “The Pun” maintains the sense of intrigue as it unfolds. Next, though, comes a whole slice of the album that really impressed me...
blogcritics.org/archives/2009/02/28/0543362.php

French review
www.progressive-area.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=756&Itemid=2

...Another huge influence in VOTUM’s music is undoubtedly PINK FLOYD, whose art is present in most every band that plays dark psychedelic rock or metal today, as is the case in another one of VOTUM’s references, PORCUPINE TREE. The spacey, atmospheric, narcotic mood of Steven Wilson’s music never leaves the background of this Polish band’s paintings. The vocals appear to have been molded following the English’s musician example. On the metal side of things, besides the usual suspects, a band we’re constantly reminded of while listening to “Time Must Have a Stop” is OPETH. There’s almost zero growling or death-riffs here, but the dark atmospheres and many of Mikael Akerfeldt’s musical tricks are easy to be found in this debut album. VOTUM mixes all these influences in a coherent new sound that will appeal both to the progmetal fan and to the art-rock aficionado...
www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=175089

Interview with band
metalexiles.com/main/page_features_i_votum.html

Interview with band
www.metalperspective.com/interviews/votum.php

...This is quite possibly the best album I’ve heard in months, including those I’ve reviewed for this site. Trying to pigeonhole them into a specific genre (e.g., progressive metal or progressive rock) does them a disservice. This is not to say they lack progressive features, just that they’re versatility is what makes this album such a great one to listen to. Seamlessly they shift from a progressive sound to an atmospheric track and on to an acoustic piece. I find myself favorably comparing them to Pagan’s Mind, Akashic, Pink Floyd, Octavia Sperati, Ayreon and others without being able to focus on any one specific influence. Of the album’s eight tracks, some are undeniably progressive. Chiefly, tracks 2, 5, 7, and 10 will appeal to fans of rhythmic guitar, melodic keyboards, and top-notch percussion. In particular, the fifth track, “The Hunt is On”, is a stellar composition providing a two-minute introduction highlighting the precision of the instrumentalists before the vocalist, Maciej Kosinski, joins. Expertly mastered, the vocals on this track—and the others—are never lost in the instrumental foundation which support them and the careful listener will be able to pick apart the polyphonic structure of the melodies behind Kosinski...
usaprogmusic.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_simple_review&Itemid=28&review=269-Votum-Time-Must-Have-a-Stop