LIGHT OF DAY, DAY OF DARKNESS

This very good progressive metal album is very original and unique. There is only one track, lasting more than one hour! It starts with charming baby voices with a Bono- esque lead vocals. Amazingly, the lead vocals tone then almost never sound anymore like Bono of U2, except for a bit around the 45th minute. The lead singing often consist in intermittent & almost spoken pairs of words. The rather monolithic, SLOW and sustained rhythmic electric guitar has a good metal sound, although it is maybe a bit too dirty, reminding the typical sound of metal band "Pile Driver" in a less powerful and fast manner: the bass here does not support as much the electric rhythmic guitar; however, the sound remains quite metal of the 80's, unlike the rhythmic guitars of Pain of Salvation, which has more the grunge sound. There are many pleasant background organ of the 70's as keyboards; there are other more modern keyboards parts, and the presence of many pleasant symphonic arrangements-like makes me think if they are not emulated by keyboards. The track is not tedious to listen, because the airs and rhythms involved often change and are catchy and pleasant to listen. The album is not really guitar solo-oriented, although it contains a couples of very good ones, being more atmospheric, visceral and spacey than bombastic and melodic. The drums are really varied and refined: they are a strong point one this record. Right in the middle of the track, there is a long bit where a women sings with a Sinead O'Connor-esque voice; it is done in a very mellow and mysterious Middle Eastern atmosphere; there is a gloomy unidentified wind instrument that sounds a bit like a sad saxophone; the experience is memorable although it is a bit lengthy; I think the permanent humming combined with hazy & futuristic bubble sounds which evoke a huge boiling process in the background is essential to render the enigmatic character to this part of the track. There are some interesting distortion-free or acoustic guitar arrangements. This record is less structured, fast, nervous, accessible and emotional than progressive metal bands like Symphony X and Shadow Gallery; that's why it may belong to a class apart.