Eight years after the weird and wonderful "Liaison de la Morte", the Dutch progressive metal band is back with something quite different. They have changed their sound considerably and they have a new vocalist. The result is progressive metal of the intense kind. The opening song is proof of the new direction as the song opens in a dramatic way with a 911 call, an aggressive guitar riff and a brutal roar (for the record it's vocalist Legrand's brother, Robin de Groot, who does the opening scream). I was sucked in right away by the musical whirlwind that ensued. Tempo shifts en masse, passages of extreme melodic bliss side by side with dual guitar solos, heavy riffs and a feeling that even though the songs are complex, every passage fits. The band is tight and highly skilled and the songwriting is top notch, resulting in songs that are varied, challenging and constantly seeking new directions.
The Fooling opens the album in an impressive way though I'm still divided on whether the 911 call works or not. After its powerful and aggressive opening the song suddenly slows down shortly for a fantastic atmospheric chorus section where the guitar lays an amazing foundation. The same technique is used in
Golan Heights to the same great effect. I love the way the guitar slices slowly through the sound.
Legrand's vocal performance is vibrant and spirited throughout the album. He is one the most impressive vocalists I have discovered in a long while.
As most great albums "For Moments Never Done" takes time to unfold. Somewhere between the first five and ten listens the album will start to grow and the songs will blossom. I've listened to the album regularly for a month now and it doesn't feel like it's peaked yet.
The sound is very clear and every instrument is given room to unfold, yes, even the bass is clearly audible which is another plus. The guitar sound and solos in particular have a superb crisp sound.
Of the seven songs on the album all are standouts, some more than others but each with their own batch of highlights.
Dreamon is instantly captivating with a very melodic core. Guitar and drums work together in a special union here.
Running from the source opens with a sweet melody. Legrand's voice unfolds on an acoustic background and it gives the song a tender feel. Through its 6 minutes the song evolves and ends up as a powerhouse of wailing guitars and fast paced drumming. Brilliant.
Spring Before Winter opens with a splendid instrumental passage. About halfway through Legrand vocals ease into the song and completes the melancholic atmosphere.
Self-Chosen ends the album on an aggressive note and in a way brings the album full circle even if it's a quite depressing one.
The lyrics mostly deal with relationship and serious personal issues and suit the songs very well but I don't feel they work 100%. There seems to be a connection between the songs The Fooling, Framed, Running from the Source, Spring before winter and Self-chosen and they have common themes but the lyrics don't make complete sense to me. Maybe they need more time.
Several bands come to mind when trying to come up with a suitable comparison for
Cirrha Niva.
Pain of Salvation ,
Nevermore and
Psychotic Waltz are three bands that have elements in common with
Cirrha Niva but that doesn't come close to describing the music. It's varied, challenging, melodic, aggressive, heavy, different and worth giving a chance, even if you're not into progressive metal. If you like your music complex and melodic then I can only urge you to check out For Moments Never Done.
To Sum up: Superb musicianship, great songs. The best comeback of the year so far.
Written by
Steen Monday, September 21, 2009
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