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Brazilian prog metal band Mindflow deliver 14 “sort of” new tracks of powerfully melodic tunes. With Bare Hands is basically a combination of their third release, Destructive Device and what would have been their fourth release, 365, which are songs that were released one at a time through their website.

To a certain degree, Mindflow’s music is comparable to Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation, while their softer side floats into Marillion territory — not bad things at all. Mindflow come at you hard one moment, then settle down to a softer side the next. It’s the latter that seems to happen more often these days, though, opting for a more melodic AOR side than what I remember hearing on their second release, Mind Over Body.

But on With Bare Hands the band continues their tight musicianship while weaving heavy rock and progressive elements together with catchy melodies. As with its predecessors, this album is also really lengthy. However, there’s no 10 to 12 minute epics as on previous releases. Fourteen tracks is a lot to take in in one sitting, but they all offer something enjoyable.

You have to ask yourself why Mindflow would put out this combined release? if you already have Destructive Device, and were able to get 365 from their website, why buy this? It’s still not a bad album none the less, though.

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