1000 THOUGHTS OF VIOLENCE

When my sister and I were children, our parents would take us for weekend walks in nearby woodland. We would stroll through dells lined with bluebells, around natural orchards of crab apple trees and across cuckoo haunted meadows. When we came to a fork or a crossroad in the path, my dad would flip a coin to help decide which way to go next. Eventually though, we would always come back along the same path without ever seeming to get lost. Listening to Kekal's album is a bit like my childhood memories of these walks. With Kekal we encounter a variety of light, bright jazzy areas, compelling soundscapes and surprising time signatures, but we know that we will usually return to the familiar section of thrash metal with repetitive guitar and Scott Travis-style drums.

Kekal use a combination of aggressive vocals with the aforementioned thrash metal devices and melodic voices with equally melodious rock guitar. In jazz mode they remind me of Black Sabbath on Planet Caravan and, at times, the vocals sound like Russell Mael of Sparks. On other occasions the group echo the more contemporary Cave-In. The drummer is no fool and is capable of interesting drum-parts. But, whereas Faith No More and Dream Theater hit the mark with this fusing of thrash and melody, Kekal on 1000 Thoughts of Violence do not quite succeed. The reason is because, to a traditional progressive rock fan like me, they fall uncomfortably between the two camps - erring too much on the thrash metal side which is disproportionately the larger and inferior. Taking into account the light and shade aspect, the thrash is still in need of severe editing, while the progressive, 'conventional' heavy rock and experimentation needs expanding.

Kekal are to be commended for their willingness to experiment and to merge a delicate jazz playing with heavy rock. Like my mother and father many years ago, they took me on a fascinating journey with many memorable experiences. Just one last thing though gentlemen ? May I suggest that you change the album title to 1000 Thoughts of Tranquillity.