PROMINENCE AND DEMISE

Winds is a fairly typical prog metal band that (at least on Prominence and Demise) incorporates heavy classical elements including piano and strings. Unlike many symphonic bands where the strings feel more like film accompaniment, the additional musicians sound truly classical, both in training and performance. The piano especially is featured and if anything were to separate Winds from the huge crowd it would be Andy Winter's piano. The core sound leans slightly more to the tech / extreme end of the spectrum rather than the keyboard / DT style. However, the band really doesn't fit into the post/experimental category at all. The closest band I know of is Leprous, who currently sit in Tech/Extreme but both seem like simple prog metal to me.

Aside from the piano, probably the most signature part of the Winds sound is the vocal. Lars Erich Si sings cleanly in a straightforward baritone with the usual addition of harmonies. While his voice is not annoying like many high pitched screamers or atonal croakers, his tone lacks much nuance or true interest. Guest artists do provide a few harsh tones, but for the most part this is a melodic music. In this regard, there is some interest as Si does make some nice note choices that are more prog than metal. Lyrics are on the new age end of philosophical, typical for the prog fan but outside your standard fare.

The guitars of Carl Tidemann are up to the usual level of prog metal virtuosity. There are plenty of arpeggios, fast lead lines, and grinding riffs. The tone is heavily distorted, though the lead tone is relatively smooth. The drums are similarly fast and precise, fine for metal, but not especially grooving. Songwriting also has a few prog twists that would have been eye popping in 1995, impressive in 2000, but by now are old hat.

I'm always on the lookout for something fresh in the metal scene, and so when an unknown (to me) band pops up in the charts for exp/post I like to check it out. This album was a little disappointing as it was competent but typical prog metal. Enough to make the middle grade but certainly not a top contender. 2.5 star rounded up.

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