Here is a promising 6-cut release from a new prog-metal outfit called Earthcubed. Offering a powerful dose of melodic progressive metal filled with the typical elements like the complex rhythmic structure, odd time signatures, and the musicianship that is noteworthy of playing this style.
The brainchild of British guitarist/composer Andrew Bordoni, anyone can ask the question, "why aren't these guys signed?" Bordoni has the chops and seems to have the vision in order to make this happen, and here is the proof.
One of the focuses' on this recording (besides the guitar work of Bordoni himself) is Kristin Lamb, who offers her vocal chops in more of a rock style, more in relation to Pat Benetar than say an operatic stylist, not to mention her occasional violin playing, which adds another element that brings a more certain technical element, rather than letting a keyboard play the strings.
On this release the band is represented well, offering up your typical powerful cuts such as
"The Rising" and
"Redemption;" the Awake-era Dream Theater-esque ballads like the acoustic
"Avalon" and the "sixth track" as well as more dark atmospheric moments found in
"Fury;" regardless of there only being six cuts, it does show the diversity, rather than just being another overproduced demo.
Production wise, Bordoni has it together, this release in particular layers guitars, while adding plenty of solos and a powerful rhythm section; not to mention the keyboard pads that are used are brought to the back of the mix to make this lean more towards a Metal sound, rather than becoming too symphonic. Overall, it is impressive, again the musicianship and vision is there, so this just might be the embryonic stage of another band to make the rounds on a larger scale here in the future.
Written by
Hashman Wednesday, February 18, 2004
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