Oceansize - Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up

Artist: Oceansize

Album: Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up

Release: 2010

“This is how the wars get started”

Let it be known – with this record, I have reached a personal milestone. Drum roll please… I now own an album with a pair of breasts on the cover. Now at the time when I purchased Oceansize’s latest opus, I had no idea of this fact. It was only when I had the album in my hand that it dawned on me as to what I was looking at – and only when I flipped through the flipbook-style inlay of the record featuring a rotating naked headless manikin. The image itself is a beautiful way to showcase what the Manchester, England five-piece is aiming to achieve with Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up. I am reminded of the classic Joy Division cover of Unknown Pleasures and the music itself only adds to this idea. Oceansize takes a bit of a departure from the mellower sound they developed on their last record and replace it with a kind of Mastodon-meets-Joy Division-esk wall of sound with some Nirvana thrown in for good measure. There’s not a single moment on Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up that lets you relax. It’s a powerful record that can swallow you whole if you let it and aims to leave its listener guessing what will be coming next. We have shifts that vary from Robert Fripp-esk soundscapes to mind crushing guitar riffs. Not even I could have predicted the inclusion of a female vocalist on A Penny’s Weight. The guitar work on Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up deserves a special mention as well. Oceansize have managed to capture some of the most apocalyptic doomy riffs I have ever heard. Complemented with a the sounds of an orchestral style piano and vocalist Mike Vennart’s calm yet powerful style of singing make this album something special. One gets a sense of swimming through concrete when listening to Self Preserved while the Bodies Float Up. All its sharp cutting gravel will scratch you and the tar will stain you but when all is said and done, you were glad you took the dive. But with how bloated with sound this record is, I wouldn’t recommend starting with Oceansize’s latest. If you are new to the band, take their 2007 release Frames for a spin and ease yourself into their unique style of chaos. It’s the calmer complement to this unrelenting record. But really you can’t do wrong with this band. Oceansize is one of the rising stars of the progressive world and should not be ignored.

Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts

Artist: Shadow Gallery

Album: Digital Ghosts

Release: 2009

“Echoes of this ghost song fade away…”

So here’s a band that I had never listened to before this record. I had heard previous vocalist Mike Baker when he was featured on Ayreon’s The Human Equation album back in 2004, (also my first exposure to Ayreon). I liked the guys voice – it had a nice Alice Cooper-esk vibe about it. And that was it. A few years pass and I hear about this band again. In 2008 Mike Baker passed away much to the dismay of prog heads everywhere. Then I heard news that the band was recording a new album. And so here’s Digital Ghosts, Shadow Gallery’s first record without Mike on vocals. Maybe it’s because I hadn’t listened to their previous recordings, but I think this is a great tribute to their fallen comrade. This is fairly stream-lined progressive metal. Constantly changing rhythms, guitarist vs. keyboardist battles (I guess it isn’t only limited to power metal), and varying vocal harmonies are the bulk of Digital Ghosts. There’s nothing wrong with this but it’s a bit predictable. The progressive metal scene prides itself on complexity and this record tends to hang around in the average area of the genre. This also makes it hard to find any comparable bands to help flush out my thoughts. The closest I can come up with is a heaver The Tangent and early Dream Theater, (I had to make myself spell theatre incorrectly), but even then that’s only during a few songs. Speaking of songs, they all have an uplifting quality about them that is a nice change of pace for me musically. Thinking back I can’t recall any songs that really stood out above the rest but on this album in works out for the best. Each consecutive listen is like rediscovering the songs anew. That is something that is rare in music these days. But something I focused on while listening to the record was its title. Digital Ghosts – what a perfect name for these recordings. Mike’s presence is defiantly felt here. Mainly in the over-the-top drum passages and guitar solos. In conclusion, I didn’t really know what to expect from Shadow Gallery. But at the end of the day, they’ve gained a fan – or at least a new listener.

Indukti - S.U.S.A.R.

Artist: Indukti

Album: S.U.S.A.R.

Release: 2004

“All my hopes, they just can’t unfold”

This one’s a deep listen… These Polish upstarts are pushing at the boundaries of progressive metal. Where some bands on their debut’s tend to stuck to the simpler formulas of their chosen genre, Indukti brings a complexity to S.U.S.A.R. that few musicians would dare to attempt on their first records. Sounding like a weird mix of Ayreon and Riverside, (complemented by Riverside vocalist Mariusz Duda singing on a few tracks), the band’s eccentric instrumentation is the notable feature on S.U.S.A.R.. The majority of the album is instrumental and while that may turn off some people, the musicians involved keep the listener on their toes with constantly changing rhythms and melodies. A particular moment of beauty that shines through above the others is when the album halts and a Harp plays for a few blissful minutes. I’m left wishing they would have given more emphasis on the Harp player because she definitely gives the album a better sense of atmosphere. There’s a general feeling of coldness around this record. The songs have a dark vibe about them that is only added to when Mariusz caresses the record with his unique sound of pain and loss. With such a combination of talent, the album could serve as background music to a lunatics mind. Nothing wrong with that right? Anyway… S.U.S.A.R. as a whole feels like one big jam session. The last song in particular sounds like it could have come from In the Court of the Crimson King – which is a BIG plus in my book. As far as sound, Indukti don’t really bring a lot of new stuff to the table. But none the less S.U.S.A.R. is still quite an interesting listen and any fan of progressive music should find this record enjoyable – if a tad repetitive. Indukti are defiantly a band to watch for in the future.

Ihsahn - After

Artist: Ihsahn

Album: After

Release: 2010

“And this is the after. The ending of ends.”

If King Crimson decided to play death metal in 1970, this is what Lizard would have sounded like. After being Vegard Tveitan, AKA Ihsahn’s third solo release after disbanding Emperor, he has had the time needed to develop a sound all his own. While his previous releases had a tendency to lean towards a heavier sound, on After he has finally managed to balance death and progressive metal into something beautiful. The man’s guitar work has been improving steadily and this record sees Ihsahn at the top of his game. It almost sounds like it came from another world. I am reminded of Opeth’s Morningrise during the transitions from acoustics to heavy metal. Not a bad record to be compared to in my opinion. It’s also a plus that After was produced by Jens Bogren who also worked on Opeth’s last two records. But the really surprising this about this album is the inclusion of a Saxophone. This addition lets me know that Ihsahn is serious about expanding his musical horizons on this record. The instrument is used sparingly but when it is, it provides a large amount of texture and gives the album as a whole a much more desolate feel. The whole album sounds like it could have just been a jam session between the musicians and that’s a nice refreshing change from all the large scale releases that came out last year. But a word to the music-savvy. This is a challenging listen. Don’t expect to make it through After in one sitting. I tried and it wore me out. Ihshan has delivered one monolith of a record and I loved every minute of it. After is starting 2010 off to a good start and I’d expect nothing less from this genius.

Music of 2009 - Part IV

7. Riverside – Anno Domini High Definition

I love being tricked when I listen to music. And that’s just what ADHD does. What starts as a subtle piano tune quickly turns into one of the most active records this year. From Opeth-esk melodies to keyboard riffs straight from Floyd, Riverside has created an odyssey for the ears, (there’s also a fair bit of Tool and Porcupine Tree sprinkled around as well.) The performances of the musicians should also noted. Guitarist Piotr is really the star of the show, (the whole record is basically one big 44 minute solo), and singer Mariusz can convey nostalgia for the past better than any other singer I’ve heard recently. ADHA is one of those records that needs to be listened to from beginning to end – if you don’t then you’re missing out on something beautiful. This IS modern prog at its best.