AS WE KNOW IT

This is something I didn't expect. A metal band from the land of Oz named after an obscure ancient Roman chronicler. First off, you don't have to be a metal head to appreciate the melodious, philisophical elements that pervade this short work that is actually a 5 track EP prelude to a full length album.

The Dream Theatre influence here is evident but without the razzle dazzle and I would actually ignore any of the Dream Theatre comparisons that I've seen pop up in other critiques. No guitar heroes arpeggiating and shredding away in impossible 19/4 time signatures here either, although there are a couple of well placed fiery solos with acoustic guitars that give contrasts at the right moments. Dynamic well thought thought out harmonies and melodies that segue and complement one another in such wonderful ways is what gives the EP a rich complexity. It is obvious that a lot of work went into this and you get a feeling of determination from these guys ( and girl ). After hearing "As We Know It " for the first time I couldn't believe that the running time was only about 25 minutes such is the depth of the music. For some reason Hemina sometimes remind me of some Steve Rothery era Marillion rather than any metal bands that I've ever heard. There are sections of heaviness but I abandonned my all metal apprehensions after hearing guitarist / lead vocalist Douglas Skene's passionate deliveries after the choir-like intro Lonesome Angel that leads into the explosive and very proggy And Now To Find A Friend ( phew! no growling Satan vocals ). No Emersonistic keys here either and the layered textures are perfect, creating almost Tangerine Dream-like backdrops on this multi part epic.

It's hard to categorize Hemina but one thing for sure is that they would seem a bit out of place playing on the same bill as Slayer or Meshuggah. One can only hope that the full length follow up album slated for sometime in 2011sticks to the auspicious musical strategies that never over extend themselves which are displayed by this promising Australian band. "As We Know It" provides such a pleasant ½ hour listen that even an old geezer like me who is stuck in the seventies had to give it another spin.