Church Of The Cosmic Skull's leader and spiritual talisman Bill Fisher returns with his second solo album. While the first was more in the vein of his Mothership project, the singer songwriter influence creeping into the prog, doom style of COTCS, on this second album, Fisher has embraced the jazz sound that has roots in the style of Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock. Shifting from the big band of In The Morning to the lounge style cover of Status Quo's Caroline. Yep you read that right, Fisher turns one of The Quo's heaviest hits into a smoky ballad is a brave move but pays off due to Fisher's reverence to the original. If you come into this record expecting heavy guitars you'll be surprised to hear the piano taking pride of place, with some metronomic drumming to accompany the keys.
Now I said that there's some jazz greatness on the record but as it unfolds before you Answers In Your Soul takes the Billy Joel/Paul Simon route of soulful balladry, that shifts into a more jaunty, proggy coda towards the end. Following this is People Should Be Friendly which reminds me of Tom Waits, while Time & Death comes out of the Leonard Cohen songbook. The album ending with a gospel, stripped back rendition of Evil In Your Eye from Is Satan Real? COTCS's debut album. An interesting listen that is unlike most of the bands Fisher is associated with. Open your mind to a higher truth and welcome to jazz club...nice. 7/10
The Kite Experiment - Atmospherics (Self Released)
The Kite Experiment - Atmospherics (Self Released)
I'm always a fan of anything multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer/songwriter John Mitchell does, so the prospect of this surprise EP dropping on Friday 30th was enough for me to buy it immediately. However it gets better for prog fans as The Kite Experiment is a collaboration between Mitchell on vocals and piano, virtuoso drummer Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, Steve Hackett) and classically trained guitarist Chris Hargrave of electro/art rock band Fishtank. Musically there isn't much different from any of the members day jobs but then I suppose that is supposed to be the point as all three have been involved with very eclectic projects throughout the years. I guess if I were trying to pinpoint it I'd say this is art rock taking from Peter Gabriel but also AOR heros. Temple Road kicks off the EP with a shimmering driving anthem Don Henley would be proud to write, although of course there's still that prog leaning of John Mitchell's back catalogue.
Following this is The Bridge, an atmospheric piece, a simple repeating guitar chord, tapping high hat and understated synth, powers the verse as it leads into the more fully rounded chorus and then a carnival-like coda into the guitar solo, it's the longest song on the record at 5:38, but like with all the songs here, there's a lot of musicianship packed into the short run times. Alpha Omega brings a 80's synth pop sound of Duran Duran and the piano-driven pop of Keane, Domus is a slick, funky ballad that speaks of home (neat huh Latin fans?), in the Peter Gabriel/Eric Serra as the EP is rounded out with a prime piece of Celtic pop prog, that must come from Mitchell's time in It Bites. Atmospherics is a brilliant surprise EP from this virtuoso triumvirate and one worth investing in for fans of Mitchell, Blundell or Hargrave. 8/10
When Darkness Falls - What We Leave Behind (Self Released)
From Colorado, When Darkness Falls are a melo-death/metalcore band, What We Leave Behind is their second album and it's a technically proficent, heavy and stylish slice of modern metal. I'll not mention the drumming as I'm not sure if it is a computer or not as the official membership seems to be Eli on vocals/guitar, Kayla on bass and Will on guitar. Whatever the membership their is a brilliant unison on this record, the songs sounding like a band who are much more experienced. As their darkness descends on Heavy Blood the raging torrent of riffage brings to mind that of The Blackening era of Machine Head (before things went completely off the rails).
Savage in their delivery but with a practically mechanical playing style things seldom let off the gas Eli and Will delivering riff after riff at frightening pace and intricacy, Deathless Rotting the shortest shot of anger. Kayley adding the crushing grooves to Another Grave To Dig which delves into the doom sound. Eli also is a quality vocalist his growling clear and resonant while his clean vocals are also very good as well. I'm seriously impressed with the high standard of songwriting, production and composition on this album, there's never a time when you would think this is only the bands second album (having formed in 2014). Tracks such as Order 270 are full on thrash workouts while Equidistance adds a melodic opening, ot the modern assault. A great melodeath/metalcore record, well worth your time. 7/10
Sorceress Of Sin - Constantine (Self Released)
M'Colleague Simon gave UK melodic metal band Sorceress Of Sin a 8/10 when he reviewed their debut album in February of last year. Essentially a vehicle for singer Lisa Skinner and guitarist Constantine Kanakis, the band are a collaborative effort that came to fruition as a band on their debut album Mirrored Revenge, obviously no slouches they have spent the past year writing and recording their second album. Unfortunately unlike Simon, Constantine did absolutely nothing for me for one major reason, which I will go into later. I understand what they are trying to do, the album is a dark, thrash meets classic metal album with lots of theatrical elements that are in the range of Mercyful Fate and Hell. Musically it's decent if a little basic but the major fault for me are Lisa's vocals, yes their cinematic ranging from snarls to operatic warbling but none of it is in tune and varies too wildly to ever be too cohesive and keep the attention. After around four tracks I'd had enough but persevered to the end of the album, though it never got better I'm afraid. They play Bloodstock next week, listen to the album and watch the band to decide for yourself. However for me Sorceress Of Sin was all sin and no salvation. 4/10
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