SYNTHETIC
Hemina
•Progressive Metal
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Studio Album, released in 2012 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. This Hour of Ours 2:12 - Douglas Skene / Vocals, Guitars & Keyboards Released via Nightmare Records 2012 Thanks to progmetalhead for the additionand to progmetalhead for the last updates Edit this entry |
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HEMINA Synthetic ratings distribution
(224 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(20%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(31%)
Good, but non-essential (26%)
Collectors/fans only (18%)
Poor. Only for completionists (5%)
HEMINA Synthetic reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Team

Hemina are an Australian Prog Metal unit that have recently made an impact with their debut Ep that has now become a full blown 79 minute epic master work in the form of 'Synthetic'. The sprawling concept album focuses on a disembodied angel who is forced to live in the modern world and even beyond into other eternities. The musicianship is akin to the metal melodic style of Dream Theater, Ayreon, Pain of Salvation and the symphonic ambience of Pink Floyd. It is about as good as I have ever heard from an Australian prog band.
It begins with 'This Hour of Ours'; a haunting sound of synths and rain falling heavily. The spacey atmosphere builds with the ethereal vocals of Douglas Skene from Anubis, crystal clear and empassioned. The piano accompanies in the next epic 11 and a half minute track, 'To Conceive a Plan' that suddenly explodes with metal distortion and a heavy tempo. Mitch Coull's lead guitar is scorching with a strong percussion beat by Andrew Craig. Jessica Martin's bass pumps along with well executed lines and the keyboards of Phill Eltakchi are extraordinary.
Together Hemina are a powerful force of prog metal and they delight in lengthy instrumental breaks and lead guitar solos. It is nice to hear Jessica's voice accompanying Skene at times.This track has some symphonic violin sounds and is driven by a rhythmic cadence. There are some loud screams to enhance the atmosphere and at 8:20 the riff chugs along well under Skene's finger blistering solo. The riff that comes in at 9:40 is a fast lead phrase that crunches with admirable dexterity. It is followed by blazing twin lead solos. The song is a grand start to this epic album.
Some keyboard wizardry is heard in the next track, 'The Boy is Dead', similar to the blistering work of Jordan Rudess. The pace settles into a quieter passage temporarily before the next metal attack. Quieter ethereal vocals are heard but it explodes suddenly into relentless riffing.
'For All Wrong Reasons' is a nice change into balladic territory, breaking from the heaviness previously. The harmonies are beautiful with Skene and Jessica's duet; 'I've seen each passing season, the places for my calamity.' As far as a ballad goes this is Hemina at the top of their game. The lead guitar soars with emotion and caps off a highlight of the album. This is segued seamlessly by another 11 minute epic 'And Now to Find a Friend', with a string section and then pounding drums and distorted guitar riffs. The synth solo is dynamic and lifts the atmosphere considerably. The vocals are passionate and there is a soundscape of keys and guitars beneath, reminding me of Queensryche or Symphony X. It takes many directions into metal and symphonic territory before settling into a very pronounced ambience with lead guitar finesse and estranged melancholy vocals.
The next track is 'With What I See', beginning softly with piano, acoustics and strings. The metal riffs take over drowning out the keys. It is a fairly standard metal song for the majority but it ends with an innovative passage of feedback and spacey synths, with waves crashing. This segues into 'Hunting is for Women' that opens with heartbeat drums. There is an odd time sig and very off kilter instrumentation. The vocals follow the melody that are more experimental ending with some weird sounds and a nice synth, but it is not one of my favourite songs on the album.
Next is 'Even In Heaven', and it is back to the metal guitars and keyboard runs. The tempo is slow paced for a while but it builds to a driving fast beat and crunching riff. This was welcome after a lot of slower material. Everything stops as the verses come in; 'life takes you by the helm, myself my soul you dwell, its yearning to see the light of day because of you.' The love song becomes a fast paced riffing head banger, with blazing guitar speed sweeps, and percussive blastbeats. The instrumental break is wonderful with mellotron style keys and an incredible breakneck speedy keyboard solo over heavy drums and guitar. The blitzkrieg lead guitar solos are also frenetic and well executed in this highlight of the album.
'Conduit to the Sky' is a short track, less than three minutes, with creepy keyboards and choral angelic vocals. It is a transition piece leading to 'Haunting Me!', that rips along with metal riffing elegance and darker multi tracked vocals, with lyrics such as; 'death is not the end', 'nothing left to see', and 'is this all I'll be.' The choppy riff leads to a twin lead solo, and an ethereal section with effects and vocal intonations.
'Divine' finishes the album with an outstanding lengthy 13 minute epic. The metal riffing is predominant in the first section, with duel lead solos and a layer of keyboard pads. The vocals are again mixed well into the sound; 'Welcome home, I've been here, the walls are so reminiscent.' Later there is a blistering fret melting lead break that is one of the finest on the album. The keyboard solo is very much like Dream Theater and the song settles into a nice quiet acoustic passage with soft vocals at 7:40. A metal riff joins and another verse, similar to earlier. The vocals are high pitched and well sung, as another lead break cracks the sound. There are some death growls to follow that are unsettling after all the clean vocals. The clean vocals soon return though and the time sig changes into a moderate tempo. Jessica's voice is heard again and then a nice reverb guitar with spacey overtones. Reversed effects add to the strange atmosphere, and the song ends on this dark vibe.
This album is certainly an epic journey with incredible guitar and keyboards, as well as a strong bass and drum rhythm machine. The vocals are appropriate and overall this is an impressive debut from this Australian band. There is enough metal here to satiate the appetite and it is brimming over with symphonic and spacey embellishments. This comes highly recommended to the prog metal fan who does not like to be constantly bombarded with speedy riffs, over produced complexity or death growls. In fact this album has a sprinkling of these but focuses on haunting atmospheres, strong melodies and downright virtuoso arrangements.
PROG REVIEWER

The majority of the music that's played on Synthetic is what I tend to look for in modern progressive metal - dynamic songwriting, stunning instrumentals, memorable choruses, and killer riffs. Hemina provides the listener with all of these things, but they do so in a way that is entirely their own. Rather than borrowing all of these tricks from established veterans like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Ayreon, Hemina puts these key traits in a more unique setting that sets them apart from other progressive metal acts. The end result is an album that sounds familiar and accessible to any prog metal veteran, but still contains enough original twists to keep it from feeling like a re-hash of something already done twenty years ago. Hemina leans towards the more theatrical and dynamic style of progressive metal played by acts like Pain of Salvation, Ayreon, Vanden Plas, and Evergrey, but you should also expect plenty of Dream Theater-influenced virtuosity, spacey sections reminiscent of Pink Floyd, melodic prog metal in the vein of Anubis Gate, and even some influences from modern thrash and power metal. Synthetic is not the kind of album that will sound polarizing to any progressive metal listener, but it packs enough variety to feel fresh and unique.
Of course, none of this would mean anything if Hemina didn't also impress from a compositional standpoint, but the band also excels on this front. For an album that's nearly eighty minutes long, it's a bit surprising that Synthetic is entirely void of any filler tracks. The ten-plus minute epic tracks like "To Conceive A Plan", "And Now To Find a Friend", and "Divine" may steal the show for some listeners, but many of the shorter songs are also masterpieces in their own right. Songs like "With What I See" or "Hunting Is For Women" especially strike me as an exceptional prog metal pieces that veer on the shorter side. In terms of musicianship, Hemina also delivers much more than expected; the band is exceptionally talented across the board, and some of the guitar solos (especially the one in "Divine") are just jaw-dropping. I could see Douglas Skene's vocals being an acquired taste for some, but I personally love his singing style. He sounds a bit like Ray Alder (of Fates Warning and Redemption fame) to these ears, which is definitely not a bad thing in my opinion.
The only minor complaint I have with the album is that the production is less than ideal - the mix feels a bit compressed, and (pardon the pun) the drums also have a 'synthetic' sound to them. A slightly less overdone production style would have impressed me, but this is the sort of flaw that's really easy to overlook in favor of excellent music. Synthetic is a virtually faultless debut album from Hemina; certainly not the kind of album that's easy to follow up. I'll be eagerly awaiting the band's next move, and in the meantime, I'll recommend this stunning debut to anybody who enjoy bands like Pain of Salvation, Ayreon, Redemption, Anubis Gate, Evergrey, Vanden Plas, and Dream Theater. Synthetic is undoubtedly one of the best debut efforts to come out within the last few years.
PROG REVIEWER

PROG REVIEWER

Hemina are part of what I might call the 'progressive metal revival'. Sure, the genre has enjoyed a steady supply of new albums each year, but it's only been relatively lately where I've noticed some of the younger bands stepping up to the plate and coming out with some really excellent music. Among others, Haken from the UK, Circus Maximus from Norway, and Distorted Harmony from Israel come to mind. Along with Caligula's Horse, Hemina is the Australian continent's contribution to this trend, and while it may not be a complete toppling of what has come before in progressive metal, there is no mistaking this style's rejuvenated modernity. "Synthetic" suffers from a few of the setbacks that generally come with an ambitious band first spreading their wings on a full length, but listeners can expect to hear some remarkable progressive metal from Hemina, now and in the coming years.
Hemina was first noticed by the progressive metal community with their self-released EP, "For All We Know". It wasn't long before they started making waves and sowed anticipation among listeners. Fans of that debut will recognize a few songs on "Synthetic"; "For All Wrong Reasons", "With What I See", and "And Now to Find a Friend" have each been given a new layer of shine for this full length. Despite a relatively short two year gap, Hemina have really widened the scope of their sound. Although their somewhat-trademark blend of Dream Theater-style prog metal and emotionally driven power metal is here, Hemina throw in electronic ambiance and even some jazz into what they do on "Synthetic".
Sure, I'd imagine most veteran prog metallers would be rolling their eyes around the time Dream Theater is mentioned as an influence, but Hemina come across as a relatively fresh-sounding act. Like many of their contemporaries in this prog metal 'renaissance', Hemina make their mark by incorporating powerful melodies, not in the traditionally bland 'arena rock' sort of way, but rather in the same sense that a classical composer would paint a hook into his craft. Vocalist Douglas Skene's voice fits the sound perfectly; I'd compare him (favourably) to Roy Kahn's quasi-operatic tenor in Kamelot. With the exception of drummer Andrew Craig (who is presumably too busy backing up the band with his intricate rhythms), every member of the band offers vocals in some capacity. Sadly, the prospect of a heavy metal barbershop quartet is wasted, but the warm voicework in Hemina gives "Synthetic" a warmth that helps bridge that gap between the logical and emotional sides of appreciation that progressive metal infamously so often foregoes.
"Synthetic" has some great songs on it- "And Now to Find a Friend" sounded great on the EP, and it sounds even better here- a prog metal powerhouse with plenty of twists and emotion to it. "For All Wrong Reasons" is a nice melodic reprieve from the otherwise prog- heavy bombast. However, while "Synthetic" is generally consistent and lacks anything I'd call 'filler', the near-eighty minute length feels like it could have used some cutting down. For all of its melodic sensibility, Hemina are a fairly cerebral experience, and taking in so much in one sitting can serve to take away from the enjoyment. Although Hemina have sharpened up their studio craft since "For All We Know", the production here still sounds a little dull; the atmospheric keyboards sound somewhat hollow in parts, and the guitars don't always sound like they're given the proper air to breathe. Luckily, Hemina focus largely on their greatest strength- the vocal aspect. "Synthetic" is a powerful mix of technical riffs and beautiful melodies, and it's no surprise that these guys have been receiving such good press in the prog world lately. At this point, Hemina feel like a band with much to offer, perhaps too much for their own good so early in the game. With this debut, they have delivered enough to get me excited, yet left enough room for improvement to make whatever second album that may come an even greater feat. I'm looking forward to it!
Latest members reviews
In the trend to bring prog metal closer to the popular public (see Seventh Wonder, Sun Caged, etc) the Australian band Hemina represents probably the outmost edge, outdoing even the S.Wonder guys. The goal here is to cram as much sugarsweet melodies, teen heartthrob vocals, atmospheric breaks, songs
... (read more)
Report this review (#1267418) | Posted by Progrussia | Thursday, September 4, 2014 | Review Permanlink
I hate to name drop, but sometimes that gets people interested....
Hemina's first album is an excellent blend of most of the good prog metal bands from the
last 10 years. Pain of Salvation, Symphony X, Kamelot, etc, but they don't really sound like
any of them.
Before I go on, I love the guit
... (read more)
Report this review (#1114573) | Posted by praj912 | Wednesday, January 15, 2014 | Review Permanlink
As far as debut albums go, there's not many that are more ambitious than Hemina with their 2012
release "Synthetic". Clocking in at just under 80 minutes, this sweeping epic features dazzling
technical prowess, memorable melodies and great atmospherics, all wrapped in the guise of a concept
albu
... (read more)
Report this review (#1013175) | Posted by bonestorm | Wednesday, August 7, 2013 | Review Permanlink
10/10
A promising band that presents a nice and fresh material from progressive metal!
I'm happy to gain access to the band's debut album Hemina, entitled Synthetic - mainly
because I do not disappoint! The truth is that not long ago I heard a piece of progressive metal so good and convincin
... (read more)
Report this review (#751853) | Posted by voliveira | Friday, May 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink
..."and not every album you enjoy will be a perfect masterpiece" warns the pop up after I assign a 5 star rating.
Indeed that is true yet this album is a indeed a masterpiece. It's just simply perfect.
All of the elements that I love about progressive music are present in this album; the cinemati
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Report this review (#722256) | Posted by Proglizzard | Wednesday, April 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink
I'm really glad to see all the positive hype this album is getting. I am new to the review game and
it's rare to find the marriage between Classic Prog and Metal like this in 2012. I get tired of all
the busy riffing that counterparts of the genre bring nowadays. I was especially disappointed by t
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Report this review (#676820) | Posted by PearlJus | Thursday, March 22, 2012 | Review Permanlink
I totally agree with what the 5 star reviewers have already said about Hemina What I want to do is
add a different point. What I REALLY like about this album is the feeling of being 'in' on these
guys from the beginning. There's going to be a whole raft of people climbing on board the momentum
th
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Report this review (#660342) | Posted by BugsyEdwards | Thursday, March 15, 2012 | Review Permanlink
After initially listening to this album in the car, I realized the only way to give it the full credit it deserved was to sit back in my reclining chair and listen to it from beginning to end on my hi-fi stereo system. The musical composition takes the listener on a journey which is encapsulated by
... (read more)
Report this review (#659488) | Posted by 21st-cent-prog | Thursday, March 15, 2012 | Review Permanlink
For me The Land Of Oz has always conjured up polpular images of the indigenous kangaroo or the drone of the ancient dideroodoo so frequently heard creating mysterious atmospheres on documentaries about the vast & remote areas of the Australian outback. But a metal band named from Sydney NSW after an
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Report this review (#651833) | Posted by Vibrationbaby | Friday, March 9, 2012 | Review Permanlink
I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of Hemina's début EP As We Know It and was immensely impressed with the depth displayed within. Although the production was flawed the CD conveyed a strong sense of potential, a veritable diamond in the rough. Suffice to say their latest effort Synthetic applie
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Report this review (#651489) | Posted by Contemptible | Friday, March 9, 2012 | Review Permanlink
All I have to say is when I finished listening to this album by Sydney Progressive Metal band
was WOW. The music on this record is truly nothing short of amazing. The power, the
melody and the passion for writting a great prog metal song.
I guess I'm lucky enough to live in Australia cause
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Report this review (#650904) | Posted by metal_shred | Thursday, March 8, 2012 | Review Permanlink
Hemina is a fairly new on-the-scene five-piece progressive metal band from Sydney, Australia
featuring Sydney's Anubis guitarist Douglas Skene as frontman. After releasing their five track EP
entitled 'As We Know It' in 2010, Hemina are gaining some well deserved attention for their debut
album '
... (read more)
Report this review (#649627) | Posted by anotherstrangerme | Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | Review Permanlink
So many harmonies and such a rich sound. This Australian band I found from listening to Katabasis,
another band from Sydney in Australia. I bought this album for 25 euro after hearing the sampler and
I just wanted to hear more. The album is phenomenal if not a little long but I don't know where I'
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Report this review (#646545) | Posted by ProgolateCookie | Monday, March 5, 2012 | Review Permanlink
Just got this as a promo from Nightmare Records.
Gotta say this isn't what I was really expecting. Prog Metal led me to think that this would be like
Symphony X, Dream Theater and the like with the strong metal presence and blistering solos. Sure
there are a few bits like that but this was real
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Report this review (#645519) | Posted by Toxteth Toaster | Sunday, March 4, 2012 | Review Permanlink
Last year I was lucky enough to listen to and review Hemina's debut EP "As We Know It". Within I
discovered an incredibly mature, complex and emotional collection of music; far more developed and
polished than one expects in Australia's burgeoning progressive music scene. Although rough at times
... (read more)
Report this review (#531882) | Posted by samvallen | Sunday, September 25, 2011 | Review Permanlink
I was lucky enough to get a promo copy of this after following the band since their 2010 EP "As We
Know It'. I was a big fan of that first release and I had extremely high hopes for this album to top
it, especially in terms of production as I think that was the main thing thatt would have held the
... (read more)
Report this review (#517888) | Posted by ProgressiveMetaller | Friday, September 9, 2011 | Review Permanlink
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