progressive metal
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Everyone who knows a little something about metal should know that 'there are always Belgians'. This country has been sending strong representatives to the world of hard rock since 1968, when Adam's Recital pumped up the distortion and were called 'The Flemish Jimi Hendrix'. From heavy metal to grindcore, folk metal and hardcore, Belgians have a foot in the ground everywhere. Furthermore, we're constantly renewing the scene, which brings me to Endtime Odyssey, a breathe of fresh air rising from the muddy underground of Leuven.
Endtime Odyssey plays 'modern metal', which means complex song structures, symphonic elements and elaborate musical landscapes. It also means a flair for drama and theatrical atmosphere. Most of all, it represents journeys, four in this case. Journeys through the musical history and the ever-evolving skills of the band members. Since we're overusing the word 'journey, the album actually reaches a highlight with 'Journey For The Self'.
The musical history seems to start with the symphonics of Abba, gain the experimental nature of Zappa, get heavy like The Scorpions and in the end turn it all into the high-skill 'epic metal' feel of Dream Theater, Queensryche or Blind Guardian. These guys don't make music just to rock your socks off, they want to awe you with their musical abilities. They certainly have those and it seems that they're well-attuned enough to support the livid, emotional and clean vocals.
The four songs on this album are quite the musical adventures. I admit that I didn't really know what to think of it when I first gave 'The Resistance Within' and 'Societal Psychosis' a listen. The complexity and the highly modern, often electronic, edge stunned me a bit. However, halfway through 'In The Night', I really got into it and played the e.p. again a few times. Now the whole thing is stuck in my head...
...but that's perfectly fine
Serge
Endtime Odyssey plays 'modern metal', which means complex song structures, symphonic elements and elaborate musical landscapes. It also means a flair for drama and theatrical atmosphere. Most of all, it represents journeys, four in this case. Journeys through the musical history and the ever-evolving skills of the band members. Since we're overusing the word 'journey, the album actually reaches a highlight with 'Journey For The Self'.
The musical history seems to start with the symphonics of Abba, gain the experimental nature of Zappa, get heavy like The Scorpions and in the end turn it all into the high-skill 'epic metal' feel of Dream Theater, Queensryche or Blind Guardian. These guys don't make music just to rock your socks off, they want to awe you with their musical abilities. They certainly have those and it seems that they're well-attuned enough to support the livid, emotional and clean vocals.
The four songs on this album are quite the musical adventures. I admit that I didn't really know what to think of it when I first gave 'The Resistance Within' and 'Societal Psychosis' a listen. The complexity and the highly modern, often electronic, edge stunned me a bit. However, halfway through 'In The Night', I really got into it and played the e.p. again a few times. Now the whole thing is stuck in my head...
...but that's perfectly fine
Serge
