OF SUN AND MOON

For those who know me through my facebook page, you'll know I am currently listening to basically every album released in 2012 in the hope that my album of the year would be less biased. Overhead's "Of Sun And Moon" was high on my to-listen-to list, so while searching for a link, I actually found the band were offering downloads for reviewers, so I cashed in. This is also why I am writing this review early, rather than waiting until January to post it in the album of the year reviews. But I can tell you know, with about 200 albums listened, this one sits in 9th place.

I give a lot of 4 star reviews and ratings, so I want to make clear that this is a very high-end 4 star. I could easily justify it being 5 stars, but it would take a bit of avoiding the point. There are definite drawbacks, but what we have here is an accessible, catchy modern prog album with quite a few elements of metal. I personally would have this band in the Heavy Prog section, but I don't know their back catalogue, and there are some definite crossover elements.

This album is metal in a good way though. I have never like the progressive metal where 10 minutes is the minimum and it's not a song without 12 guitar solos and 5 keyboard solos. Overhead use the distortion to good effect, countering the rather wonderful vocal melodies. Anyone who knows me knows that for me, melody is king. Nothing else tops it. If you have a great pop melody, but apply it in a progressive way, I will love you. Always. Even in styles I don't like, such as the Dream Theater clones, I still love bands like Haken and Seventh Wonder for their epic melodies. The vocal parts in "An Afternoon of Sun and Moon", "Aftermath" and "Alive" are enough to make me love it, no matter what style it is in.

So why the 4 star rating? I don't know how to particularly say it. I think it's the crossover-ness of it, along with some of the unnecessary heavy parts. The band takes some odd influences and fuses them into some otherwise great songs, which sometimes sounds off.

But, having said that, I will re-write this review when I do albums of the year in January, and I've got a feeling I'll put it up to 5.

Essentially, this album is Crossover Prog Metal. Another band that's taken this 'style' has been the latest Beardfish, but it's hard to define. This is a great album however. It falls short in musicality and complexity, but makes it all back up with those sort of choruses that you want to blast in your car and sing at the top of your lungs.

Definitely worth a listen, as I can't really compare it to any bands, or even list influences, and any band with their own signature style deserves a listen from everyone.