Now, when it comes to the band’s overall sound and style—a successful marriage of traditional Prog-Rock with both Prog-Metal and Jazz-Rock elements—it’s difficult to pinpoint any “calculated influence.” In other words, Paradigm Shift doesn’t model itself on any one particular band in the same genre. With that being said, however, during the numerous instrumental passages, I am occasionally reminded of diverse groups such as the aforementioned Kansas and E.L.P., Hourglass and Spock’s Beard, Cairo and Haken, perhaps even some Dream Theater thrown in. A nice mixture. The keyboardist also relies heavily on piano (seemingly his main instrument on most songs, unlike many Prog-Rock bands where the “mainstay/foundation” keyboard is the organ) but also includes a wide variety of different synth sounds, both classic and modern. So whether keeping its influences intentionally ambiguous or not, Paradigm Shift comes across as highly sophisticated, skillfully adept, and wildly experienced on their debut album, certainly on par with many of their contemporaries who have numerous albums under their belts.