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I'm going to readily admit at the outset of this review that I don't know what to make of NY's Progressive Metal/Rock band Valence. Their new EP, Laser Baron, is full of complex songwriting, varying time signatures and acrobatic playing, so from a talent perspective these four guys know their way around their instruments. While I'm not the most attentive person when it comes to lyrics I do enjoy the sound of the human voice when paired with music but Laser Baron is entirely instrumental and that is a hurdle for me. When you add rapid changes in melody and pacing, I can't say this stuff holds my attention for very long. Valence's influences seem rather broad in nature and I certainly hear Rush and Symphony X in some of the more accessible melody lines but they are quickly replaced by more jazzy runs and all I can think of are current bands like Pelican or Spock's Beard and classic Prog Rock bands like King Crimson or Genesis. While that speaks to their talent and I'm sure there are fans of this stuff it all comes across to me like "listen to our intricate guitar runs" or "watch us stay on the beat through several time changes." If you are musician or someone who just loves to delve into the nuances of technical music, Laser Baron is certainly worth seeking out. If, like me, your musical aspirations are a bit more humble, you may want to look elsewhere for your fix.