“We Were Here" was created by Malcolm Smith, San Francisco-area composer/guitarist and founding member of prog rock band Metaphor. This new music offers fans of progressive rock everything that makes this genre so beloved: a wide array of instrumentation, quirky time signatures, tempo changes, complicated, multi-section arrangements, and exemplary musicianship. The largely-instrumental “We Were Here” is Smith’s first “solo” project. In addition to playing electric and acoustic guitars, Smith composed all of the music. The CD features drummer Mattias Olsson (Anglagard, White Willow, Necromonkey), who gives the songs a remarkable energy and dynamic (and, a close examination by the most discerning listeners will reveal a brief, rare example of Mr. Olsson’s vocal styling). Also featured is Marc Spooner, keyboardist with Metaphor and a solo artist, who also made important contributions to the compositions, as well as through the many shades of his colorful palette of keyboard sounds. Rounding out the ensemble is the distinct bass work of Loren Gustafson. Vocalist John Mabry of Metaphor and Mind Furniture sings on the one track which contains vocals, and guitarists Rich Longacre and Craig Launer make guest appearances on two tracks. “This project is a collection of unadulterated, shameless, and, to be truthful, a bit indulgent progressive rock,” says Smith. “I think that people will love the attention-grabbing, curious, and sometimes peculiar nature of the compositions. This music that we make today will be our artistic signature to the future – similar to what prehistoric cave paintings say to me, 25,000 years later – we were here.” Most of the music for “We Were Here,” which was recorded at Suspect Studios in San Jose, California, was written during the hiatus since Metaphor’s last critically-acclaimed CD “The Sparrow” (2007). A new Metaphor project will get underway in 2015.