Sun Caged was formed in the spring of 1999 by drummer Dennis Leeflang (ex-Within Temptation), guitarist Marcel Coenen and bassist/chapman stick player Rob van der Loo. They recorded their first EP in 2000 called "Scar Winter", which received good critics. Next singer Sascha Burchardt and keyboard player Joost van den Broek joined the band. Together this Dutch band recorded their second EP titled "Dominion". The EP consists of 4 tracks: "Curiosity Kills", "Four Guilders" (Dutch joke? 4 gulden), "Sides" and "The Escape". The first two tracks are difficult to describe but progressive metal combined with several jazz elements and influences comes closest. Double bass passages are interchanged with a "Santana"-like guitar sound and melody line, followed by a completely different progressive metal sound like "Dream Theater".

The singer sounds a lot like Bruce Dickinson but with a bit of tone when reaching for the higher pitches. This is especially predominant in the more "Dream Theater" (from the "Operation Mindcrime" era) orientated last two songs of this EP. Musically it is all in order, except for the somewhat weaker vocals. In all good quality, "Sides" could have been taken straight from the earlier mentioned "Operation Mindcrime". With the jazz and fusion elements, "Sun Caged" brings something extra to the progressive metal scene and make this band not yet another "Dream Theater" or "Maiden" clone. Hopefully they`ll decide to record a full length album in the near future. These guys sure sound ready for it!