The Dutch progressive rockband In-Tension exists in it's current line-up since late 2002. In 1998 the band was started as Symphus, with as biggest influences progressive metal bands like Symphony X and Dream Theater. After some changes in line-up and style finally in 2002 the band finds the musical direction it wants to follow: an easily recognizable own sound with influences from both Progressive Rock and fusion. The band members have acquired their reputation with bands like In "Cryptic Form", "Inner Strength", "Refrain", "GuessStation" and "Images and Dreams" and two of them graduate this year at the Rock Academy in Tilburg.

The music of this new Dutch band is extremely melodic and symphonic, in some parts very hard with a powerful work, including technical arrangements in all compositions, filled with many instrumental variations. In-Tension follows the traditions of pure Melodic and Symphonic Progressive Metal Rock fronted by a female vocal, a wonderful and soft female voice, that it interacts very well with the symphonic keyboards sounds, but all the arrangements are driven by fantastic and incredible guitars solos that really shine on all songs, other highlights include the hard and heavy hitting drums and the bass lines.

In-Tension has an extremely beautiful music, based into an elegant and traditional symphonic style, creating a perfect musical atmosphere. There is no limit to In-Tension music, they know creating and playing an amazing Melodic Progressive Metal Rock. If you want some comparisons around others bands, then join the energy of the "Nightwish" with the musical beauty of "Within Temptation" and the pompous symphonic music of "White Willow" and "Mostly Autumn". Now, I will be really expecting fantastic things from this band in the near future. "Fragments" was recorded and mixed in the beginning of 2004, mastered at Sync Music Productions, Breda Drums recorded at Double Noise Studio, Tilburg. Produced by Pieter Kop and In-Tension, "Fragments" is an independent production. A special and particular attention to and my favourite songs are: "Unbreakable", "Too Much of Anything", "Mind's Illusion", "World of Illusions", "I Still Remember", "Frozen Memories", "Way" and "Empty". The musicians on In-Tension are: Noortje van de Voort - Vocals, Maarten Spoor - Drums, Nelis van Lierop - Piano and Synthesizer, Robin Zielhorst - Bass and piano and Ruud de Boer - Guitar. Fantastic, brilliant and an indispensable work, highly recommendable...

(Comments by Carlos Vaz)