GRAVE HUMAN GENUINE

This Germany based was initially a side project by Tobias Gommlich and Niko Knappe, musicians from local metal scene in Lutherstadt Wittenberg (Germany). It was formed a project called DARK SUNS. They started recording their material under Below Dark Illusion and finally released their first album Swanlike in 2002. As the band evolved, the gradually changed their music direction from progressive dark metla into something more progressive in style. In this "Gave Human Genuine", Kristoffer Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation fame joined the band.

"Stampede" (3:08) is an excellent experimental metal, composed in instrumental fashion. It contains heavy music using guitar riffs and powerful drumming. To me, this opning track is an adrenalin exploder. It combines the heavy side of Porcupine Tree and King Crimson nuance (post Discipline album). "Flies in Amber" (9:53) starts beautifully with sort of flute work combined by heavy (and rough) guitar work. The musical break using percussion is really great and it suddenly reminds me to Ozric Tentacle. The vocal enters the scene beautifully. I really like the ambience.oh ..it's finally a great GROWLING vocal line that reminds me to Opeth. It's terrific, my friend!! I do like it!

Surprisingly "Thornchild" (7:11) starts beautifully with an acapella that reminds me to the opening vocal part of "Ladies of The Road" (King Crimson) with a vocal that bends Greg Lake and John Wetton voice. It then flows to wonderful heavy riffs augmented with keyboard sound at the back that reminds me to symphonic prog music. Another brilliant track coming out from this band.

"Rapid Eyes Moment" (7:21) starts off nicely with an ambient acoustic guitar fills, something that you might have not expected coming from a progressive metal band. This opening part proves that they are an experimental / post metal vein band. The bass guitar lines follow beautifully. The music moves up gradually through the entrance of drum in relatively slow tempo. It's a very nice opening, really! The vocal line enters beautifully backed by slow tempo music. The music flows nicely into the grandiose one, with heavy riffs and maintaining the keyboard sounds at the background. It moves up steadily until the track finishes beautifully!

The concluding track "Papillon" (10:28) starts nicely with long sustain keyboard work that accompanies the nice singing part. It enters the heavy riffs part at approx minute 2:35. The sound of keyboard at the background helps accentuate the atmospheric side of the music. The song also contains long break in silent and then followed by great vocal line backed by piano work. It's truly a non predictable music!

WHOOOAAA..!!!

It's really an excellent addition to any progressive music collection. The key attractive point of this album is that you could not expect how the music would sound like after a particular song is complicated. Each track in this album has its own unique style - that's why it's called something like experimental and post metal in nature. The composition and performance are all excellent. The mixing is a bit "raw" but I believe that this was made intentionally by the band. 4.5 star rating. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)