DOOMSDAY AFTERNOON

This album is a concept album and details the apocalyptic horrors which mankind is in grave danger of inflicting upon itself. The lyrics allude to ecological disaster, absolute authoritive control and even genetic engineering, hinting without being explicit, thus adding to the mystery of the concept presented.

"Doomsday Afternoon" is the fullfillment of Phideaux Xavier's personal ambition to record with orchestral instruments, and was hence recorded with the participation of no less than 15 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, with lead vocals by Phideaux himself and Valerie Gracious. The music is reminiscent of Italian symphonic Prog, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd and possibly many others which my ears have yet to discern, which have clearly been and influence on the band.

Mood swings are a constant feature of the album. In the opening track, "Micro Softdeathstar," we are taken from the ominous, threatening tones of the first few bars to a sudden agressiveness which takes us by surprise. Then follow the more upbeat and optomistic melodies of the second track, "The Doctrine of Eternal Ice (Part 1)" and just when our spirit is lifted, we have a return to the threatening undertones of the first track. To a similar effect, melodies, riffs and lyrics are repeated throughout this concept album, thus linking the common theme to all the pieces. Similarly, the first and final tracks are linked. Note the poignant change in the title of these two tracks, "Micro Softdeathstar" to "Microdeath Softstar" (is this intended to remind me of a certain very famous software firm or is it just a figment of my imagination?) which brings the album full circle.

This rather intense complexity is kept up until the forth track "crumble," a piano solo, which should serve to dispel critism of over- intensity (I know such critics are out there!) without which such criticism would perhaps be justified.

All in all, an excellent piece of work which reveals itself more and more with each hearing. I am reluctant to give out 5 stars lightly, but this album surely deserves it. I look forward to the release of the final part of the trilogy, "Infernal"

Enjoy!

Thanks to Bloodfish official website.

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