Reviews

I think the term "space opera" is a rather good description of this release. This is the Star Wars of progressive rock / metal operas where acts like Ayreon cater for the ones who like some complexities and variation to the space-tinged atmospheres explored, similar to Star Trek and Babylon 5 catering to the sci-fi crowds who wants something a bit more fleshed out in terms of storylines and character descriptions. In comparison, Jupiter Society is more like the original Star Wars. High on mood and atmosphere, but somewhat lacking in details. It's an enjoyable romp though, as long as you like the prevailing features of the release. In fact, this is an album where you have to enjoy the dominating facets of the recording to be able to enjoy the music overall – one of the rare cases where you can listen to one of the compositions and based on what you hear on that one pretty much decide whether or not you'll be able to enjoy the whole production. The vocals are the most important feature here. Many different vocalists are handling lead and backing vocals, but the lead ones all share a distinct trait: emotional delivery. The vocal component is sometimes powerful and other times more restrained, but the singer always tries to add feelings and emotions to the delivery, to a greater extent than on an average recording. In addition, the vocals will in some cases function as the main melody provider. Most times underscoring the main singer are backing vocals in a variety of forms, from single female voice to multilayered mixed voices and even digital choirs in some segments, and voice effects like vocoder and whispering too: a massive amount of vocals of varying kinds on all compositions, to the extent that it is absolutely requisite to like those to enjoy the production as a whole...
www.progressor.net/review/jupiter_society_2008.html

...If you are a Carptree fan but looking for something perhaps a little more complex and involved and maybe a little heavier, look no further because Jupiter Society is going to fit the bill nicely. Conversely if you are a Therion fan but looking for something just a little lighter with slightly more accessible melodies this will be just the ticket for you. First Contact//Last Warning is a masterful achievement that will also appeal to fans of Ayreon. The music here is packed with nuance and it’s the kind of disc I can keep going back to over and over again and each time hear something new. Jupiter Society is easily one of my favorites for the year.
dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/J/jupitersociety-firstcontact.html

JUPITER SOCIETY is born, out of the ashes of Swedish progbands such as: Carptree/Krux/Candlemass plus a fine injection from former members of: Darwins Radio/Frost & Yngwie Malmsteens band!! As the new letter (more like news card) suggests: ”You get one hour of music and exclusive art work!” Is this a Sci-Fi story or is it a dark future premonition?! The newscard reads further: “This is an album about some important days in a distant future. Is this the first contact or last warning?!” The music is sometimes dark, brooding and most sinister (I like!) with some heavy (though not that metal-like) undertones, suiting the story & vocals perfectly!! But it also has some quite beautiful piano/keyboard themes blended in. This album actually grew on me while listening and after the fifth or so spin I was hooked!! Its a good idea that the band uses different vocalists on various tracks, which to my ears, gives very fine variation overall...
www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=36&p2_articleid=688

Polish review
www.mlwz.ceti.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2329&Itemid=26

...The first thing to make an impression on me was the cinematic quality of the 8 tracks presented on the disc. Most tracks begin with spacey ambient keyboard effects that set the stage for the song that follows. The next element of these tracks that stands out is the frequent use of pedal tones. Many of these compositions feature static bass lines while the keyboards move above the simple bass patterns. The guitars usually double the bass lines which leaves most of the melodic development to Westholm's keyboards and the cast of vocalists he assembled for this project. Everything revolves around the album's lyrics and First Contact // Last Warning tells the tale of a starship's crew attacked by an unknown enemy. Musically dark, cold and distant, the Jupiter Society's music is not meant to warm one's heart, but rather to send a chill down the listener's spine. It shares the same fine attention to detail that Carptree's discs display, but none of the pop elements that are essential to that band's character. The Jupiter Society takes a far heavier approach to their sound and the players and singers are well suited to the task...
www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=3475

German review
www.proggies.ch/magazine/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=353

French review
www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2846

...Opening with the futuristic "The Pilot," one gets transfixed by the opening sounds of a synthesizer giving images of a far off intergalactic place. "The Pilot" without as much as a missed beat blossoms into track 2 "Bismarck Explorer," a soft mesmerizing number with an almost hypnotic and ominous introduction. As the hard hitting drums and guitars come in, the sound becomes inescapable almost like that picture on the wall whose eyes seem to follow you around the room. Track 3, "Cold, Rigid and Remote," opens with a beautiful piano, but then the remainder of this 5-minute track flows into an almost vocal heavy opera. While this is a track to showcase the vocals, it may have been a benefit to be able to understand the lyrics as they were hard to discern and make out. Still though this track is intense, emotional and heavy. The guitar heavy, "Abduction," the eerie 11 minute almost metallic "The Enemy," the drums of "Solitude Unites Us," and the bending of the vocals of "8511" and the storyline of the closing track "Presumed Dying," featured a flamboyant piano as the track fades to a close...
www.hardrockhaven.net/reviews2009/jan09/Jupiter%20Society%20-%20First%20Contact%20last%20Warning.php

French review
www.progressia.net/index.php4?rub=chroniques&idchronik=1573

...The hour long disc, First Contact//Last Warning consists of eight tracks, all of which tend to be on the longish side. All but two are seven minutes or more with the longest being eleven and half minutes. Stylistically the music created by Jupiter Society has much in common with Carptree; it is grand in scope, majestic, panoramic, large scale symphonic progressive rock. As might be expected, melody plays a significant role in these compositions. WhereJupiter Society is different is that here the music tends to be slightly heavier in tone. Not as heavy as say Therion but certainly just as complex. The arrangements are lush and full of dynamics. And while the guitar is there, it doesn’t stand out anywhere near as much as the plethora of keyboards do. Structurally these compositions, being longer provide for ample sonic variety. There are many moody, soft and delicate almost ambient sections that contrast beautifully with the more grand and bombastic sections. This is the kind of music, driven as it is with the melody that sends shivers up my spine and makes the hair on my arms stand up! It is brilliant. Vocally, again there are times where I hear Carptree, but with each of the players taking a turn at the microphone there is a lot more vocal variety. This being a sci-fi concept each vocalist plays a part propelling the story along. Needless to say there are many opportunities for massed choirs creating these huge operatic-like sections...
www.jerrylucky.com/reviews%20f-j_012.htm