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One pin at a time: an interesting way of building a fan base to say the least. But, thats how Kenton Thomas measures his success. Every day the maps that adorn the walls of his studio become increasingly congested with tiny markers representing the gradual global dissemination of his ideals, and every day he finds himself one step closer to his goal. Through an ever increasing din of mindless platitude and formulaic doctrine, Thomas is striving to build a sustainable career doing what he does best: creating music.

Thomas holds a deep-rooted disappointment in the state of the music industry, a view that is reflected in his music, his lyrics, and indeed almost everything he does. His discontent is not, however, bereft of a certain measure of understanding. Fine cuisine has its fast food, fine art has its paint-by-numbers, and intelligent musical composition has its Top 40 Radio. Thats the way things are. Nor is Thomas categorical disdain for the commercialization of his art without a certain appreciation, for without the intellectual abyss left in the wake of todays assembly-line collections of cloned sounds and samples, there would be no niche for Portal.

Portal is a vessel a corporeal incarnation of progressive musicality and esoteric introspection for which Thomas is both heart and soul. It is, however, the tangible aspects of a band that allow its music to be shared with audiences, and Portals somatic element is far from a one man show. Portal is a foursome of free-thinking individuals, each actively seeking to challenge themselves and their listeners through intense and provocative performance. Drawing inspiration from such varied influences as progressive metal, trip-hop, and good old-fashioned rock and roll, the band has developed a sound transcendent of trends or labels a propulsive hybrid destined to flourish, with or without a mainstream market appeal.

The bands first full-length studio recording, The Vast Expanse Diminishing, is an emphatic demonstration of this collective resolve. A dark carnival of moods punctuated by progressive structures and unparalleled musicality, it is a brilliant testament not only to Thomas gifted craftsmanship, but also the exceptional talents of the Portal collective. The album was recorded with studio time the band won at the 2001 Adopt-A-Band Challenge in their hometown of Edmonton, Canada, and from the pre-production stage onward, breaking barriers was the intent. Structures were redefined and timing eviscerated, their successors meticulously interwoven with incisive lyrical mantras, and placed on a bed of emotionally charged requiems. The result is a sobering sacrament for listeners raised on predictability and repetitious clichés.

Its easy to sink below the surface in a sea of six-billion faces, says Thomas. You have to find your niche. And, if our niche is to be the band that budding intellectuals with an appetite for edgy, progressive, electro-rock listen to when theyre hungry to expand their vocabulary and feed their minds, then so be it.

In an era dominated by over-hyped redundancy and catch-phrase frenzies, Portals latest effort strikes a knockout blow for the things that really matter: for marvellously packaged creativity, for having an opinion, and most of all, for the true art of music. With an agenda so infused with artistic integrity and passion for their craft, Portal is destined to be, for many years to come, the vast expanse diminishing.