The seven man strong
Platitude released a rather good debut last year with Secrets Of Life; Nine nevertheless shows a remarkable progress for the better.
Their style is very hard to define precisely; the melodic and very symphonic progressive style is the one that shine the brightest, nicely mixed with many Power Metal and even some Heavy Rock and Neoclassic elements.
This is also one of the most interesting things about the band, the mixture of these styles results in a rather complex and at the same time down to earth album, let's take a closer look.
Dark Mind is one of the heaviest cuts on Nine, direct, hard-hitting and a nice opener. The bombastic keyboards and the raw guitar riff goes extremely well together. The band has a special talent for making short suiting interludes, as in this one filled with minor varied passages.
Trust is much more progressive in structure and still only three minutes long. An atmospheric midsection creates a mystic vibe and all in all this is a quite strange song, but in a funny successful working way.
Oblivion attacks with an ingenious use of two keyboards working simultaneous, creating a unique sound landscape, like two different streams making up a harmonious flow.
The very sincere and passionate vocals from Erik Blomkvist fit extremely well and the four-part guitar/keyboard solo is a fascinating treat.
Haleyon Days has a very deep and solid rhythm guitar riff leading the way; a mellow chorus and the advanced keyboard background are other great aspects, these guys certainly know how to create great atmospheres.
Let me just say it shortly,
Catch 22 is a thrilling experience. This band has a special ability to find the right musical mood for these very personal lyrics of hurt and despair. The guitar and keyboard flirtation is very unique and adds a complex structure to an otherwise melodic song with some great technical drums.
Avalon Farewell is a ballad type of song; huge keyboard harmonies and great varied vocals are some of many fantastic aspects in this 6-minute epic, nicely spiced with a very participating bass approach.
The moving mid-section going into a relaxed guitar solo sounds phenomenal, at the and the keyboard solo's sets in, I mean how many great solo's does one bloody song need :), I'm truly impressed by this young band.
Skies Of Xenon opens with great progressive passages, nicely followed by some cool melodic vocal lines. The chorus part takes on an aggressive nature and we are offered great intense double bass drumming. This is unbelievable good music, fantastic compositions delivered with great skill.
Falling is one of Nine's most complex and advanced songs, a 6-minute progressive journey filled with spectacular keys, intriguing passages, great drums and yet again a down to earth chorus that sounds very different from the overall gloomy mood. At first it doesn't really seem to fit in but after some listening it does. Challenging and daring music to say the least.
With
Aeromantica another rather complex track sees the light, the chorus could have had a more natural flow, but again the excellent keyboard background and captivating guitar solo is top notch.
Endless features a splendid driving chorus that bind the verse parts nicely into a dynamic song, assigned with a breaking mid-section with subsequent solos of very high class. A more positive and hopeful lyrical vibe works successfully with the melodic chorus and yet again I must highlight the spectacular twin key work.
A welcome speedy cut waits with the ending song
Starlight, starting out with a fast piano melody. It has a very harmonious glow created by a dynamic chorus, bright keys, melodic guitar leads and Erik's reassuring voice. Another intriguing and marvellous creation.
Sound-wise Nine is also a real treat, the twin keyboard deal is handled to perfection and otherwise the balance between hardness and a clear profile is archived amazingly well.
One of the things that gives this band its own special niche is the recurrent use of technical passages mixed with catchy structures. Fans of many genres should check this one out, the keyboard level is truly astonishing and these songs are just so well put together, and musically these guys rock.
The average age is just under 22 and they surely have the talent for making it big time.
I have had a hard time finding anything not working out extremely well on this record, each song seems to fit right in, not all just as fantastic but a fascinating standard is upheld.
Due to their originality it's rather difficult to compare
Platitude with other bands, but a symbiosis of Sonata Arctica, Secret Sphere,
Symphony X and
Vanden Plas should give you a broad idea of what we are dealing with.
Nine enters a very emotional and identifiable lyrical sphere; strong feelings of love and the pain and hopelessness it can bring are recurring elements. It works out extremely well; to be honest I have rarely heard lyrics sung with so much empathy and with a musical setting that fits so amazingly to it.
A refreshing wind has blown through the Metal universe, go catch it.
Written by
Tommy Sunday, May 2, 2004
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