Back in 2024, I came across an EP called Who We Are by the band Argovia. I felt it had potential, and a couple of the songs have really stayed with me. Well, they’re back with a full-length album, this one called Primal Repetition, and it is head and shoulders above that EP. The album released on April 10th.
Argovia hails from Colombia. The band includes Carlos Arminio on keys and backing vocals, Ani Guillén on lead vocals, guitars, and percussion, Mauricio Sanabria on drums, and Nicolás Paredes on bass and backing vocals. You will also hear Ross Jennings of Haken and Juan Carlos Marín on guest vocals, and also Juan Francisco Arminio on harmonica.
The band plays a smooth, flowing, warm progressive rock with some alternative edge. They venture into metal and the heavier side of rock at times, but their bread-and-butter moments are the ones that are spacious, beautiful, and tender.
I’ll say right here and now that Carlos has laid down one of the best keyboard performances of the year. He uses myriad tones and filters, and they are strangely comforting, especially when he breaks away into an amazing solo. Ani, too, is sure to be one of my favorite vocal performances this year; her voice is instantly nostalgic and, again, quite comforting and familiar. All of the musicians give us fantastic performances, though, as the rhythm section has immediacy and kick to it, and the guitars are spacey and punchy.
Primal Repetition has eleven tracks, and while I initially thought the first half was better, subsequent listens have helped me see how consistent and high quality the entire album is. We start with the one-two punch of “The Same River” and “Crossroads”. Maybe it’s because it shares a title with one of my favorite Riverside songs, but “The Same River” immediately connected with me. I love the swooning, melodic flow and the subtle, yet catchy chorus. “Crossroads” pairs so well with it, full of harmony and cinema.
Two of the singles follow, being “Mountains” and “Ebb & Flow” with Ross Jennings. The former has such a cool synth melody that drives the whole song; it’s honestly addictive. “Ebb & Flow” honestly didn’t hit me right away, for some reason, but it’s really grown on me. I love the way Ross’ voice is introduced with energy, and I love the chorus of voices and harmonies that rule the second half.
The first half ends with my favorite song on the album, “Lethean Light”. This piece is simultaneously vulnerable and emotional, and also catchy and gorgeous. I love the hooked laden chorus and especially the ambient vocal portion in the middle that launches directly into a fantastic synth solo that is utterly magnificent.
The second half is terrific, too. We get rock solid songs like “Isol_AI_tion” and “Age of Wonder”, both melodic and spunky. We also get the closer “Where Do We Go”, a ponderous and heavier piece that ends the album perfectly.
In-between those songs, though, we get a trio that sounds so good together. First is “Spark”, which has a bit more edge and riff, and I love the colorful synth. For some reason, it reminds me of a 2000’s prog metal song, and I love that. Next is “Alas de Sal” (Wings of Salt), which is sung in Spanish and features Juan Carlos Marín on vocals. This song has such fervor, and especially when the galloping rhythms and the squirrely synth take hold in the middle, the song just hits a great stride. The last one is “Unstoppable”, the third single. I love how the chorus is jumpy and quick at first, but the back half is pure harmony. It works so well, especially with the darker tone and the vibrant keys.
Argovia doesn’t just have potential, they’re realizing that potential right now. Primal Repetition is a beautiful and thrilling album that balances heaviness and utter warmth. I find it engaging and soothing, and I hope listeners will give them a shot.
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Find Argovia online:
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The PROG Mind 