INITIATION Initiation consists of Mark Partyka: lead vocals, electric & acoustic guitars; Ric Stave: basses, guitars, keyboard & pedal synths, samplers and backing vocals; John Gilbert: keyboards, synthesizers and backing vocals; and Jeff Jankowski: drums, percussion. Read what some critics had to say: "This is really good modern (memorable/catchy) style prog rock". Progressiveears.com "A great source of beautiful, solid, and authentic music". Metal Hammer Magazine "These tunes are well written and expertly performed, sporting catchy (in prog terms) melodies and creative arrangements...a strong cross between Yes and Genesis." Progressiveworld.net INITIATION 'INITIATION' (INDEPENDENT)   INITIATION is a band from the Buffalo area playing good old late 70s/early 80s Progressive Pomprock. 7 songs are on their CD, and when you listen to opener "Designer drugs" it's more like a trip down to memory lane, because this is prime-time classic 80s Prog/Pomprock meets Neo-Prog. The sound quality and instrumental back-up is quite perfect, but also vocally this is very impressive stuff. Guitarist/Lead singer Mark Partyka has a fantastic voice, reminding me of PETER GABRIEL (his GENESIS period) meets FISH (MARILLION). That first song "Designer drugs" is really sensational, midtempo with lots of keys and excellent vocals, a bit straight-forward 70s midtempo beat, ending up sounding like a perfect mix between very early GENESIS, SAGA, MARILLION and STARCASTLE. It's quite unusual to hear an American band playing a sort of Neo-Prog style a la IQ, MARILLION, PALLAS... but INITIATION also has that slight late 70s American Pomprocktouch sometimes (a la STARCASTLE/ROADMASTER), and that makes this band quite special I think. Happily all 7 included songs are in the same style, so it's 40 minutes pleasure while listening to this album. Besides the fantastic opener, other highlights are "Vultures", "Crystal beach" (pure early 70s GENESIS) and "Lady of whitehead". I can easily highly recommend this band to both Neo-Progfreaks and fans of classic late 70s Pomprock, because this band has found a perfect style combining both styles. More info can be found at: http://www.initiationmusic.com and e-mail them at: DRKMARKUS@AOL.COM