First Temple

Something of an Australian Coheed & Cambria, Closure in Moscow unabashedly borrow from prog-rock titans like Rush and Tool for their smart, sharply played FIRST TEMPLE. As a debut, it's surprisingly self-assured, with confident, soaring choruses that rise out of airy arrangements that never sacrifice melody for heaviness or unnecessary complexity. "Vanguard" features propulsive forward motion and appealingly high vocals from singer Chris De Cinque, and the languid vocal interplay and guitars of "Deluge" almost sound like an update on the Police. Elsewhere, more frantic songs like "Afterbirth" give the band a chance to flex their knack for time-signature wizardry.