NOMAD

I've been a big fan of Sky Architect ever since their spectacular debut Excavation Of The Mind in 2010, but after listening to their somewhat unfocused/uninspired experiment A Billion Years Of Solitude, I wasn't so sure how this new release would turn out to be. So after a few spins of Nomad I can safely say that this is a good return to form, not only in quality but also in style, the album is closer to their two first albums than to their previous one, the songs bear a more "traditional" kind of songwriting, and by traditional I mean by Sky Architect standards, meaning complex, imaginative with lots of twists and turns. It looks like the band have worked their asses on this one, the sound is amazing, it's not your modern crystal clear kind of sound but a more organic almost vintage like. The songwriting is excellent, clearly there's been a lot of thought put into those songs, the melodies are catchy and infectious, and the whole band sounds very focused and tight, they seem to find the correct way of building tension while the music is growing and growing until it's released and flows to the next idea. They do not break new ground but instead came up with a very strong album.

Wasteland strikes you from the get go with a bang of heaviness and an odd syncopation groovy rhythm, it's just Sky Architect's way of saying hello...after everything's calms down the song can begin with as straight forward as you can get, but as straight forward as it was it changes in a second to a tight and complex frenzied jam including a heavy sound on top of their trademark odd time signature, it then builds up towards the end as the sounds gets heavier and more intense, a very good start indeed. Endless Roads (parts 1 and 2) shows the opposite and branches out more, the first part has a quirky and groovy rhythm, the second part is slower adding a beautiful trumpet, and developing further and further more with a correct build up, this is fantastic and has to be one of Sky Architect's best moments ever. The titled track continues the formula of catchy melodies and rhythms waiting to be shuffled, the middle part here is another classic, incorporating a beautiful piano melody that only getting bigger as it progresses, great sound! Dune has a very hypnotizing atmosphere with Tom Luchies mellow vocals, it's fun diving into this one, of course it doesn't end there, but shifts into a heavy outburst, man they are so good at this. Sandwalker is the lengthiest piece here, which again changes half way to something else and holds an excellent guitar solo by Wabe Wieringa. Into Singularity is another prime example of their creativity, I love the rhythm here, Chistiaan Bruin really shines on drums and may I say not only here but throughout the album, the two part piece really sums up the album nicely with a beautiful trumpet coda the ends the album.

Although Nomad is more accessible and isn't as eclectic as A Billion Years Of Solitude, I think its strengh lies exactly there, the material is focused and effective. Nomad proves that Sky Architect is one of the most consistent bands today, and after 4 albums under their belt they are in prime shape in every aspect, that's why I wouldn't have a problem recommending the album to newbies, but if you're looking for their best album I advise to go for their debut.

4 stars!