Spheres: Iono (Self Released)
I love a bit of prog, especially when it’s muscular and takes risks. French band Spheres’ debut album is both of those things, started by guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Lino only a year ago (May 2018), this debut album is a 40 odd minute journey through some heavy progressive rock that draws influence from Tool, Opeth, Gojira et al musically they bring much of what these bands great to the table, a percussive bass thunk here (Tool) a fret slide there (Gojira) and the reliance on clean/growled vocals (Opeth) you can hear all of these in just the near 7 minute opening number The Cimmerian Ghost, a tribal beginning that leads into the intergalactic Mars a track that channels Mastodon with its vivid soundscapes and dirty grooves.
Lyrically the influences come from everywhere the guitar driven Television Nation is a criticism of TV, Sound City of politicians and Silk Road the dark net. These heady themes met with equally as dense instrumental decisions from Lino, Camille Lafontaine – Guitar, Lek – Bass and Tom Pluijmaekers – Drums as Lino also has the Maynard-meets-Akerfeldt vocal style adding to the heaviness of this record that despite being a progressive album never gets dull, every change brings something new, a melody, riff or blastbeat section, it also helps that it comes with a great sci-fi cover art made for staring at. Spheres are sort of what I think Faith No More would sound like as a prog band, there’s a danger to them that really makes this record stand out from its peers. While the world waits for the new Tool album in August, I’ll just be happy with this on repeat thanks! 9/10
First Signal: Line Of Fire (Frontiers)
Another collab from those folks at Frontiers this time it’s the husky tones of Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess who formed the band in 2010 along with Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69), during Harem Scarem’s hiatus. Even after they returned Hess was still committed to the idea of continuing First Signal. Luckily Frontiers have numerous multi-talented staff writers and it was producer/drummer Daniel Flores (Murder Of My Sweet, Find Me) who put together the band of Michael Palace (guitar) and Johan Niemann (bass) for a third First Signal album that once again draws inspiration from early Harem Scarem. This record features songs from Hess himself along with numerous other writers who are trying to catch that feeling of early 90’s melodic rock which I’ve always found a lot more interesting than some of the stuff from the 80’s. There is a real slickness to the sound here backing up that North American sound (Harem Scarem are Canadian) as pumping rockier tracks (Falling) blend with ballads (The Last Of My Broken Hearts) and mid-paced anthems (Need You Now). For fans of Winger, Hardline and Tyketto, as well as Harem Scarem obviously, Line Of Fire is a slick melodic rock album from a recognisable voice and some of the best young guns around. 7/10
Thermate: Redshift City (Argonauta Records)
One word to describe Eyes Of Jupiter the opening track on Redshift City and that is fuzz, unadulterated fuzz, big chords are punched out as lead guitar freaks out at the back before the riff repeats for nearly 2 minutes before the vocals kick in. I was scared it would be instrumental. This track is the first single from the record and gives good indication what these Finns are about musically, swaggering stoner riffs with a look back at the 70’s proto-metal bands. This is their first full length record having released two EP’s previously, though only in the stoner (and prog) worlds could 6 tracks be considered a full length as the songs here are all mini-epics probably inspired by long studio jams and extensive use of pot, the songs organically manoeuvre into different shapes during their sometimes gargantuan run times allowing the band to flex their musical muscles, without being over indulgent. The band say Eyes Of Jupiter maybe the heaviest track on the album and that may be true as the remaining five numbers all take more of a space rock vibe. Though, the fuzz, like The Dude, abides until the very last moment. Competent stoner chops from this Kuopio five piece. 7/10
Kryptos: Afterburner (AFM Records)
In the course of this blog (8 years), we’ve heard so many bands in the traditional metal revival. Most hail from North America, Scandinavia or the UK, however determined to break that trend are Kryptos who hail from Banaglore, India. Oddly unlike so many revivalist metal bands this band have been lacing up their high-tops and putting on their bullet belts since 1998, Afterburner is their fifth album and sees them celebrating 20 years with some high-velocity speed metal that draws from Accept, Priest but keeps things nice and underground adding to this albums authentic sound and playing style. There’s no subtlety here the riffs come at lightspeed with twin guitars and thundering bass leading the charge though vocally Nolan owes more to Mr Petrozza than Halford. Its speed metal done at a very high level so it’s a mix of classic British metal and American/German thrash, as songs like the title track, the chugging Dead Of Night, a thrashy Crimson Queen and the fist pumping Into The Wind blast from your speakers. Clad in a Bill Hauser (Hirax & Skeletonwitch) sleeve Kryptos may well be the breakthrough release for this Indian institution. 8/10
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