ILION

'Ilion' begins by bringing in water, fire and hell; industrial metallic sound of Metallica, ambient and dark-doom energy of old Led Zeppelin; new air which swells, gives into the extreme; the voice is composed before being shouted, the bass unfurls the fire, the drums sow discord. 'Nimh' solemn rise, violence in the animal state, crimsonian break with the monolithic guitar throwing confusion, the voice resumes, the guitar trumpets, the tortured sounds like those of an anaconda; angelic choirs finally setting the sound. Reminiscences of the legendary Isis. Organic piece where the progressive vein flows drop by drop from the still. 'The Words That Have Never Been Heard' long track punctuated by an industrial, electric frenzy; weighted percussion lets the fiery-primal torrent flow into our ears. Comes a disembodied guitar solo from which belched and orgasmic notes emerge; the electric acoustics establish the post-rock atmosphere, finally calming the ardor; segue into 'Confluence' and Etienne's stratospheric sax sealing the two pieces; the Prog begins to pulse, the sound groovy, invasive, atmospheric and its strident guitar; the frenetic rhythm ultimately discordant, confusing.

'Weavers' Weft' for the slap with the solemn melancholy sound, on an ambient, evil Sabbath; a caravan of brigands from beyond the grave protecting our crumbling planet; experimental title roaring like a resurrected Monster Magnet, a prog bloodthirsty Tool; note the Japanese finale with delicate introspective notes. 'Uruk' same vein: latent ambience and nervous solo twisting in every corner of our ears, weighted sound which becomes hypnotic, mantra of the new decade, Genesisian keyboard of the 80s before the feverish finale, put into a trance; crucible of fury and languor. 'The Story That Has Never Been Told' with the lit keyboard of a Duke encore; crystalline air from another space-time bringing the sabbatical break with the Gregorian choirs of the Beginning; overloop suite reinforcing the stoner psyche and inviting you to trance. 'Enter The Loop' as an outro and spinning tune, Olympian, ethereal, mixing our senses and leaving our soul empty with each musical wave.

Slift releases an exceptional album, 4/5 but given the exaggerated ratings I give it a 5 for this essential character. (Originally on Progcensor)