The members of the band recognize that the sound quality and production are not very good due to financial reasons. I state that this is indeed the case (especially in the vocals), but will not worry about it anymore in the coming review, concentrating on the songs, melodies and moods.
Eruption: The Arrow's Point is the opener. Lots of organ and keyboards at first and then the guitar sets in. The vocals are more or less recited on a melodious note and the music can be likened to Discipline. The keyboards exude a seventies aura, but the guitars are rather noisy and heavy. Am I Really Here? is the next one up. This is a full length track opening with willowy guitars and keyboards. Then we come to a clear part with long high notes on the guitar and piano. The melodies are rather somber and I'm reminded of the Scandinavian bands of the nineties. The vocals are a bit hazy and slurred, and could be a little better articulated. Still, it does not hamper the music too much. The vocal parts are generally rather quiet, but I like it when Thielen interjects some more involved singing. I won't say that everything he does is in tune or anything, but I do feel it fits in with the music. Faded is an interlude with the accent on percussion and bass. Moody. Discussed is the second major track. Soft keyboards, a pining bass open and the song continues to be somewhat somber, almost a lament. The percussion is quite nice here, being rather low. Good melodies again as on the previous tracks and some rather frantic vocals (generally during this track they are grating) as well (compare Peter Hammill in his old days). A really good track that can get quite heavy at times. It ends rather abruptly. Elegy is a soothing instrumental. The longest track by far is One Step Further. Again, the music is not very happy. After the first vocal part we come to an extensive keyboard part. A striking feature is the almost circuslike intermezzo. the song only begins to shine past the middle of the track. I'm strongly reminded of Van Der Graaf Generator here. At the end the music even becomes uplifting. An anthemic ending. The closer is an unnerving, distorted and disjointed instrumental: lots of different effects on the keyboards. I love it.
Conclusion: I hope some label will pick this band up. They really show great promise in their music. They will have to work on those vocals, but I do hope that the singer retains his expressivity and personality. The album actually only contains three or four tracks with the other short ones functioning as interludes, to relax by. Comparable to the dark, passionate progressive from Scandinavia and I also hear some echoes of Van Der Graaf Generator, but on the whole they seem a little more accessible. I think it is fair to say we have a new competitor with an original sound. All we can hope is that they can (maybe rerecord and) release this demo album. For the time being I advise you to go and have a listen and support this band. Review by "Jurriaan Hage" (www.staff.science.uu.nl).
Eruption: The Arrow's Point is the opener. Lots of organ and keyboards at first and then the guitar sets in. The vocals are more or less recited on a melodious note and the music can be likened to Discipline. The keyboards exude a seventies aura, but the guitars are rather noisy and heavy. Am I Really Here? is the next one up. This is a full length track opening with willowy guitars and keyboards. Then we come to a clear part with long high notes on the guitar and piano. The melodies are rather somber and I'm reminded of the Scandinavian bands of the nineties. The vocals are a bit hazy and slurred, and could be a little better articulated. Still, it does not hamper the music too much. The vocal parts are generally rather quiet, but I like it when Thielen interjects some more involved singing. I won't say that everything he does is in tune or anything, but I do feel it fits in with the music. Faded is an interlude with the accent on percussion and bass. Moody. Discussed is the second major track. Soft keyboards, a pining bass open and the song continues to be somewhat somber, almost a lament. The percussion is quite nice here, being rather low. Good melodies again as on the previous tracks and some rather frantic vocals (generally during this track they are grating) as well (compare Peter Hammill in his old days). A really good track that can get quite heavy at times. It ends rather abruptly. Elegy is a soothing instrumental. The longest track by far is One Step Further. Again, the music is not very happy. After the first vocal part we come to an extensive keyboard part. A striking feature is the almost circuslike intermezzo. the song only begins to shine past the middle of the track. I'm strongly reminded of Van Der Graaf Generator here. At the end the music even becomes uplifting. An anthemic ending. The closer is an unnerving, distorted and disjointed instrumental: lots of different effects on the keyboards. I love it.
Conclusion: I hope some label will pick this band up. They really show great promise in their music. They will have to work on those vocals, but I do hope that the singer retains his expressivity and personality. The album actually only contains three or four tracks with the other short ones functioning as interludes, to relax by. Comparable to the dark, passionate progressive from Scandinavia and I also hear some echoes of Van Der Graaf Generator, but on the whole they seem a little more accessible. I think it is fair to say we have a new competitor with an original sound. All we can hope is that they can (maybe rerecord and) release this demo album. For the time being I advise you to go and have a listen and support this band. Review by "Jurriaan Hage" (www.staff.science.uu.nl).
RATING: 7.5 / 10
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