progressive rock / dark metal
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Metal and emotion have a pretty long history together, even though metal has usually been about anger, fear, despair and aggression. However, in the nineties, some bands started to emerge who blended the distorted guitars and powerful drums with deeply emotional vocals and lyrics about love, loss, hope and gratitude. Bands like Anathema opened the gates to a warm and comforting metal sound, inspiring many bands.
One of them is Lucid Recess, a trio hailing from Guwahati, India. Formed in 2004 as an alternative rock band, this trio wanted to create music for the mind and for the heart. Gradually, their music evolved into sophisticated and progressive metal while still incorporating these emotional clean vocals. Now, they unleashed their latest album 'Awake and Aware', which has become a highly mature and complex piece of heavy music.
The majority of the songs on this album are slowly moving power ballads, driving on immersive basslines and a complex pattern of guitars and vocals. The whole does indeed breathe an alternative metal atmosphere, reminding me of modern day American stadium bands. Opener 'Dead End Deep' and follower 'Wireless Junkies' are perfect examples of the sound and obvious highlights this album.
I can hear influences from bands like Tool, Disturbed, Dream Theater, Anathema, Creed and even Radiohead in this music, the latter mainly in the vocal structures. I really like the combination of these lingering vocals and the heaviness brought by the guitars and drums. It gives the whole something extra and makes it easy to lose yourself in the music. It certainly makes the whole sound modern.
No doubt that this band consists of three highly talented and experienced musicians. Somehow, I also think there's a background in jazz present. 'Metamorphosis', one of the heaviest songs, feels like jazzmetal, a style that gains appreciation everywhere. On the other hand, there's also plenty of vintage hard rock present, highlighting in the splendid ballad 'What Made This Burn'. I guess this is one of my absolute favorites here.
In all, this certainly is something for progressive metal fans and everyone who loves the bands I mentioned in this review. I've been pleasantly surprised by metal bands from that part of the world and now I'm even more convinced that there is something special going on in India. So check it out, you will find something truly impressive from these guys.
Serge
One of them is Lucid Recess, a trio hailing from Guwahati, India. Formed in 2004 as an alternative rock band, this trio wanted to create music for the mind and for the heart. Gradually, their music evolved into sophisticated and progressive metal while still incorporating these emotional clean vocals. Now, they unleashed their latest album 'Awake and Aware', which has become a highly mature and complex piece of heavy music.
The majority of the songs on this album are slowly moving power ballads, driving on immersive basslines and a complex pattern of guitars and vocals. The whole does indeed breathe an alternative metal atmosphere, reminding me of modern day American stadium bands. Opener 'Dead End Deep' and follower 'Wireless Junkies' are perfect examples of the sound and obvious highlights this album.
I can hear influences from bands like Tool, Disturbed, Dream Theater, Anathema, Creed and even Radiohead in this music, the latter mainly in the vocal structures. I really like the combination of these lingering vocals and the heaviness brought by the guitars and drums. It gives the whole something extra and makes it easy to lose yourself in the music. It certainly makes the whole sound modern.
No doubt that this band consists of three highly talented and experienced musicians. Somehow, I also think there's a background in jazz present. 'Metamorphosis', one of the heaviest songs, feels like jazzmetal, a style that gains appreciation everywhere. On the other hand, there's also plenty of vintage hard rock present, highlighting in the splendid ballad 'What Made This Burn'. I guess this is one of my absolute favorites here.
In all, this certainly is something for progressive metal fans and everyone who loves the bands I mentioned in this review. I've been pleasantly surprised by metal bands from that part of the world and now I'm even more convinced that there is something special going on in India. So check it out, you will find something truly impressive from these guys.
Serge
