|
This album is an enigma to me. Flipping through the booklet, I find what appears to be a death\black metal band. The poses
in the pictures, the looks on their faces, all point me to something quite aggressive. But, they aren't.
Then, the album starts out with a very science-fiction premise, and the introduction is a cold, mechanical voice speaking
of computers (or something non-human) controlling the humans. This then makes me think of metal with a very industrial-edge.
But, they aren't.
This is very much a mix of progressive and power metal, which should not surprise me at all, seeing that this genre is
the focus of the label that they are on. This has all the flares that a fan of this style is looking for. Large, sweeping,
melodic choruses in the background. The keyboards providing atmosphere, until they step to the forefront and occupy the spot
of the soloing instrument. This of course leads to the guitars flourishing in the realm of solos. But, behind all of this,
the supporting guitar work and drumming seems to give this album the dark tinge that the pictures and concept hints at.
And then again, there is a song like “Sleeping Beauty”. Where I was hoping they would go, they did
not. This song and concept seems like a very dark concept to me, but the start throws me off. It starts out with a happy
piano and guitar part that is very light and happy. They then dive in to the darkness, just to go back into the happy part,
and go back forth until the end of the song.
I do not care for happy and light moments where they seem out of place. I do not care for light and happy parts in my
metal, period. But I have to admit, the blending they do intrigues me, and they balance them pretty well.
My judgment would be usually to force them, coerce them to get rid of the happy. Like I said though, it works. So do the
choirs in the background. I can tell that a lot of thought and effort has gone into this. Therefore, my judgment yet again
falls on the listeners. Take the time to explore, and to judge the whole project. For, I would have, and did, reach for the
song skip button, but I find that I am glad that I did not.
|
