Apparently Finland's number one rock band, these three brothers who make up the core of the Von Hertzen Brothers band - Mikko (vocals/guitar), Kie (guitar) and Jonne (bass) - all share some stunning vocal harmonies in a Queen/Beach Boys style that pretty much run throughout 'Stars Aligned', this, their fourth album and the follow up to the number one album (in Finland anyway) 'Love Remains The Same'. The band, completed by drummer Mikko Kaakkuriniemi (try saying that after 10 pints!...try saying it sober!) and insane keyboards by Juha Kuoppala, are as tight as you like and the music is adventurous to say the least.

Opener 'Miracle' starts off well with a sound reminiscent of Kings X - massive riffs, lots of melody and a weird keyboard thing going on. 'Gloria', with its proggy keyboard breaks, hooks and mad vocal harmonies, almost angelic and choral-like, is inventive and sure sounds different to these ears. They do have that certain 'European' sound going on, the vocals a bit high range for my usual taste.

The first single, 'Angel's Eyes', is pure 70s prog. Offering up rich textures and soundscapes it segues nicely into 'Down By The Sea', a hypnotic slice of chilled psychedelia, with a hint of Zep thrown in for good measure...nice indeed. Music to close your eyes and lose yourself in, a beautiful song and the high point of the album for me. 'Bring Out The Snakes' is one of several songs that show their Floyd influences before riffing it up like Soundgarden, quite a combination.

The lyrics are inspired by William Blake, Finnish poets and Indian authors, tales of love, freedom and longing. No sex, drugs or rock 'n' roll here folks! Hard to imagine them gaining the mainstream success here that they get in their homeland, the British public in general would not get it...no way. Von Hertzen Brothers are not afraid to show their influences, the mutual love of Queen, Floyd and 70s rock in general mixed up with Eastern influences and the lush vocal harmonies make for interesting listening. They create songs that are rewarding with repeated listening, intelligent, inventive and epic. The music is complex in part, but not self indulgent like a lot of prog - fans of Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd will surely lap it up. As for me? Yeah I'm digging it, but I'm not gonna become a prog rock fan! I'm not!

www.myspace.com/vonhertzenbrothers