ODYSSEY

I was going through the pile of metal related albums I hadn't reviewed yet, when I discovered this Ep by JUPITER HOLLOW. I thought I probably had them in the wrong section given their name. So I looked them up here and almost fell off my seat as they are a local band. From Barrie, Ontario, a mere 30 minute drive from my place, and where my sister lives. They are a duo who formed in 2015, the same year as CROWN LANDS, and I mention them because they too are a duo from Ontario(Toronto) and both are greatly influenced by RUSH.

CROWN LANDS managed to get their first EP out the year before JUPITER HOLLOW, but I actually prefer this Barrie band. I can't get over how good this 23 1/2 minute recording is. It sounds amazing, as far as the production goes. The singer reminds me of Geddy on "Hemispheres", he can flat out sing in that higher register, and he gets extreme as well. Kenny on vocals is also the drummer and both add synths. Grant adds the guitar and bass. It's kind of crazy the similarities between these two Canadian bands who formed the same year. While COWN LANDS seems to talk about RUSH constantly, JUPITER HOLLOW is more into TOOL and TESSERACT.

This duo has released a couple of studio albums so far. Their 2018 release called "AHDOMN" features four of the five tracks from this EP but given a makeover apparently. And they released "Bereavement" in 2020. This "Odyssey" Ep is one I just am blown away by. The complexity and power, but also the melodic passages and atmospheric calms. The singer can get extreme but it all sounds amazing. The only song they didn't put on their debut from this EP is the title track. Kind of surprising considering how good it is. Its the closer here. The atmosphere over the final minute is breathtaking. Like thunder kind of but a little different. Of course I link it to it's title "Odyssey" and it's just such an epic way to end this recording.

This album gets very heavy at times. That opening number called "Deep In Space" reveals that. Kenny comes in screaming the vocals at first. So many repeated themes on this one. It's like the rhythm section after 4 1/2 minutes is trampling the soundscape to end it. What an opener! "Hades Heart" is brighter, more prog metal-like with the vocals and style. "Over 50 Years" has this abrasive guitar sound to start as drums roll in. This is the heaviest section yet. So much bottom end. The vocals growl and scream briefly around 2 minutes. A complex track. "Ascending" is all about the atmosphere and melancholy over it's almost 3 minutes.

What a start for this young duo. Five tracks all under 6 minutes, but enough time to truly showcase this band's incredible talents. I have no doubt they could stretch these songs out in a live situation, but man, what a great teaser this Ep is. Another 2017 release I didn't get to. This was worth the wait.

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