“Puppet Show is very difficult to categorize, but I suppose they could be summarized as symph prog with a large helping of attitude and aggression. I would not go as far as to say that they are a prog-metal band. Fantastically furious and complex one moment, subtle and contemplative the next; they avoid the primary weaknesses of the metal genre, such as overly crunchy and unrelenting guitar assaults. A great deal of emphasis is placed upon composition, which really keeps the epic works together and tight. Puppet Show will especially appeal to fans of progressive music who wish to hear more power and energy in their music, but are tired of bands being ‘something else’ first, and progressive as an afterthought... At the risk of repeating myself, I cannot recommend Traumatized highly enough... The spotlight alternates between the passionately urgent vocals of Sean Frazier and the driving instrumental solos. Tight, complex, and always shifting, these passages really bring out the talents of Mike Grimes and Chris Ogburn. A strange phenomenon occurs when listening to these ‘overdrive’ sections: anyone attempting to air-guitar or air-keyboard along with the music will quickly be left behind. Yet the band manages to retain a sense of usefulness to the extended tracks. It is hard to pinpoint an area that is unnecessary or there purely for the sake of self-indulgence. All I ask is that you listen to the sound clips and decide for yourself!... (Earlier review): Bands like Puppet Show continue to be the primary motivation for running this site. Traumatized is one of the most exciting, pulse-pounding collections of Prog that I have heard in a long time, and it deserves to be heard. The album starts off innocently enough, with a short gentle church organ lead-in, which blends in to Relativity. From there, the tempo builds to a high octane pace that manages to sustain through most of the remaining 50+ minutes. It is difficult to place Puppet Show into one single genre, simply because there are so many components which straddle the lines. There are elements of prog-metal, including the ferocious tempo of the instrumental work and drumming, but the musicianship avoids most of the metal cliches (especially over-emphasized crunchy guitar). In fact, it is the keyboard playing of Mike Grimes and driving bass lines that take center stage on most of the excellent instrumental breaks. Sean Frazier’s vocals are unquestionably strong and carry the emotion with hints of Fish, Peter Hammill, and the recent, deeper sound of Queensrÿche’s Geoff Tate. It is hard to pick out highlights, because the album manages a consistency that is rare when such a frenzied pace is set. The time goes by quickly, and a deep breath is all that is left to be taken at its end.” [Prog-Net (Chris Dixon)]

“This 5-piece ensemble certainly plays with a lot of gusto. Taking after Classic-Prog-With-A-Heavy Metal-Heart bands like Deus ex Machina, this band puts forth a convincing slab of busy riffs, histrionic vocals, and ripping keyboard runs. They do not have the scope nor the ambition of Deus ex Machina, but they make up for it with power and passion and a refusal to settle for the easy (musical) way out... Each piece, especially Marathon and Relativity, goes through a number of musical sections, frequently climaxing with a powerful riff or two. This album may be a good transition for fans of bands like Rush, Saga, or Queensryche who want to introduce themselves to more symphonic progressive material. It’s accessible, challenging but not overbearing, and holds together well as an album. Recommended.” [Exposé (Steve Robey)]

“A promising debut with a modern style and nice progressive moves, Puppet Show have a style that would fit on Magna Carta yet have the chops to put them in the league of some prog-metal music or even some classic progressive. We have a strong keyboard presence here, corporeal and commanding attention, with just that right Hammond tone and a wide variety of monophonic synth tones and lush patches. The tracks are long and complex and filled with very appropriate keyboard playing. The solos are certainly not typical and are often played with an uncommon dexterity... Very good stuff here, music of this proficiency in symphonic rock is all too rare these days.” [Exposé (Mike McLatchey)]

“These guys are tight and pack a wallop, favoring long tracks, complex instrumentals with plenty of bombast, and thoughtful lyrical themes. It’s nice to hear a prog vocalist with a great voice sing about something meaningful, and Frazier fills the bill... If you enjoy hard-charging American prog rock with nutritious lyrical brain food, Puppet Show won’t fail to please.” [Progression]

“In the case of Puppet Show, we can say that this group has what it takes to be at the forefront of the Progressive universe. To us the new album Traumatized shows a promising successful career. It is recommended to fans of good neo-prog with traditional symphonic elements.” [Metamusica (translated from Portuguese)]

“This is a very mature prog, and belies the fact that this is their debut album. Many bands that have been around for years have never managed music as good as this. In The Ring of Truth, there is real power and conviction in the voice of Sean Frazier. There is so much good music coming out of America at present, and with Puppet Show and Ad Infinitum, Kinesis have captured two of the best. If you enjoy prog that is tinged with good guitars as well as Moogs, Hammonds, and Mellotrons and enjoy classic Kansas and mid-70’s Genesis, you really ought to search this one out. Another goody.” [Feedback]

“A new band with a progressive rock style that manages to combine all the subdivisions of the genre... their objective is to be innovators and not revisionists. The influences of classic prog rock are here in perfect doses and the result is dynamic and very cool, from the symphonic rock of Genesis (present most obviously in the keyboards of Mike Grimes) to the avalanches of almost metal-prog of guitarist Chris Ogburn, all with a very fresh neo-prog touch. The music of Puppet Show’s debut flows naturally, so from the most delicate passages to the most complex, it says a lot about a group that gives continuity to progressive music in an almost instinctive manner, knowing the ‘secrets’ of the style from the inside and putting them in a contemporary context. A great new band on the progressive horizon.” [margen (translated from Spanish)]

“Puppet Show... play fresh sounding classic prog with incredible chops and a fantastic, original singer in Sean Frazier. Most of the songs are laced with great keyboard and guitar work, as well as interesting lyrics from the aforementioned Mr. Frazier... Most of the tracks fall in the 7-12 minute range, which should please every fan of ‘epic prog’ songs. The album closer The Ring of Truth is a mindblower, filled with pounding rhythms and great, angst-ridden vocals. Highly recommended.” [Prog-Net (Peter Pardo)]

“From the moment I started listening to this CD, I was left very impressed by it... Try, for an instant, to hear in your mind any of the instrumental flights of Genesis, say any part of Selling England... Well, bring the drums and bass forward, more up front, and the guitar... is somewhat more aggressive... Singer Sean Frazier has a very pleasant voice and sometimes, when necessary, with a light case of histrionics. Mike Grimes, in charge of  keyboards, constantly surprises us: at one moment a climate, at another time playing a mellotron, an organ which moves you, or a brilliant, pyrotechnic solo. Chris Ogburn plays the guitar, knitting fascinating mixtures with the keyboards, and adding more presence to the group's sound. Both Matt Lipford on percussion and Craig Polson on bass are constantly changing the rhythm, and when the group needs to unfold its full range of sound, they are there sustaining it as needed. In addition, with the exception of Lipford, all of them sing, making the CD even more spectacular. It would be unfair to choose a theme as the highlight of the CD, for the album offers many varied brilliant parts... an absolutely recommended CD from a band which I sincerely hope continues to give us work of such a high standard in the future.” [Mellotron Magazine, Argentina (translated from Spanish)]

“Sean Frazier’s powerful, dynamic voice is backed by harmony backing vocals, whizzo keyboards, and electrifying guitar work. From the ‘Nice’ pipe organ and keyboards opening, this is classical prog rock at its best... all the musicians are creative and polished... The recording is excellent, having clarity, breadth, and a great stereo mix.” [Wondrous Stories]

“This reminded me strongly of Marillion, and before you ask which one, the answer is - both! It avoids the Genesis sound-alike tag by virtue of the fact that as much of the keyboard work comes from organ as from synths, giving the disc a decidedly more 70’s feel, while the guitar work is firmly out of the Rothery camp and the vocals from the Fish tree, with a touch of Roger Chapman in there too. Overall, a winner for Marillion fans and a fair certainty for the rest of you, especially with 3 tracks over 11-minutes long.” [CD Services]

“The compositions are very melodic with changing atmospheres, instrumental breaks and solos from guitar and synthesizers. In other words, typical prog rock with warm sympathy for seventies-rooted bands like Genesis (the way of playing the Hammond organ and the synthesizer runs) and neo-prog in the vein of Marillion and IQ.” [Background]

“This is what I call Prog. Yes, this young band from the SF Bay Area is a mix of Procol Harum and UK, T. Rex and Marillion. There are a lot of influences from the 70’s but they don’t sound dated.” [Luna Negra]

“Traumatized could have been the logical continuation of Selling England by the Pound.” [Progjet (translated from French)]