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Topic ClosedAwake (UK) for Prog Metal.

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yam yam View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Awake (UK) for Prog Metal.
    Posted: January 09 2012 at 11:08

Well, it seems the Prog Metal team have had a relatively quiet time with new suggestions lately, so it's time to Awaken them from their Yuletide slumbers with this band from the UK.

They are already on Metalmusicarchives.com: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/awake.aspx


Formerly known as 'Humanity', they recorded a demo: '...As Humanity Fades' in 2001, an EP: 'Justify' in 2002, and a full album: 'When Silence Calls' in 2003 (review here: http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200364.html#humanity)


Their debut album as 'Awake' was 'Illumination' in 2007 (review here:
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=5340, and here: http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200741.php#awake), which they followed up with 'Forever More' on Lion Music in October 2011.

"Back 4 years after their label debut, UK progressive metal act Awake return with their brand new opus 'Forever More' via Lion Music on 14th October 2011.

Taking a step onwards from their debut 'Illumination', Awake have delivered a heavier grittier sound second time round that retains the melodies and depth of its critically acclaimed predecessor. 'Forever More' also marks the first album recorded with new guitar duo, the brothers Andy and Steven Coles who have brought stability to the band not to mention bringing a new dimension to heavier sound heard on the new album.

With a score of live dates including tours with Evergrey and Magnum under their belts, not to mention live sessions on BBC Radio, Awake have been going from strength to strength in the run up to the new albums creation.

The journey for this album started around a year after 'Illumination' was released. The bands former guitarist left (Richard Hall) and the group were keen to move on with new members when writing the new album. After thorough and extensive auditioning Andy Coles joined around June 2008 and the early ideas for the new album were formed. 'Release Me' was the first song written and came from a keyboard 'riff' that Craig came in with. Steven Coles joined the band by February 2009 and a break in writing was taken for the band to go out on the road with Magnum again. After this writing resumed and the album took shape over the next year or so. Pre-production took place in February 2010, final adjustments were made (including the inclusion of female backing vocals-Jennifer Hardy), and full recording took place April/May 2010.

On 'Forever More' lyrical slant the band state, "we wanted to convey our own personal experiences with love and loss and the hardships you face when you lose someone close to you. We hope that this is something people in general can relate to and we hope they can find meaning within the songs".

Forever More is an emotional album written by musicians that are fully dedicated to Awake and pushing the boundaries of what they do. It can on one hand be perceived as a very sad album and there are moments that will touch the heart strings, but at the same time its extremely powerful and meaningful. It's an album we all can relate to and interpret for our own situation, not just in the words but also in the use of keys and guitar. 'Forever More' packs a sonic punch musically and emotionally and it's a package that will be warmly welcomed by music fans worldwide on 14th October 2011."

http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/forevermore.htm
 
 
 
 
 
And some YouTube samples of 'Illumination':
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well...that's actually the whole album, but never mind!!
 
 
Not to be confused with another metal band called 'Awake' From Corpus Christi, Texas...who gave us just one album in 1990 called 'Spiritual Warfare', & which isn't really prog at all, but could nevertheless be added to Metalmusicarchives.com. You can read all about that particular band here: http://angelicwarlord.com/reviews/a/awake06.html, and listen to some of it here: http://www.myspace.com/texasawake.
 
And of course we already have the Tech/Extreme Prog Metal band called 'A((wake))', from Portland, Oregon in the database: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3819.


 

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Bonnek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2012 at 16:08

You sure this is not a lost Evergrey album? Shocked
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2012 at 16:12
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2012 at 16:39
Originally posted by Bonnek Bonnek wrote:


You sure this is not a lost Evergrey album? Shocked
 
Simon Shedwell has a voice that is very similar to Tom Englund's (who actually does some backing vocals on the 'Illumination' album), and Hendrik Danhage contributes a guest guitar solo on "Forgiven Now Forever", so I can certainly see where you're coming from here!!  LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2012 at 19:55
Meh - vocalist is rather mamby-pamby for prog-metal. Not enough interest in there for me - baritone middle range, modicum of emotion, unexciting song structures. When they get the dueling guitar solos in harmony its kind of cool, but kinda of a lamer facsimile of Iron Maiden.

Still, who am I to suggest not including them? There are much worse bands out there!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2012 at 12:56


Awake didn't make it. A melodic metal album, not for PA.
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