FOREWORD

"Foreword" is the second release of PHAVIAN, after their debut "Kiena" in 2009. The EP acts as a "taster" for the 4-part concept (1 track per album) that they have set out to release in the next years, with "Meridian I" being released first in 2011. The 4 tracks presented here describe a pretty unconventional, dark progressive rock/metal sound with diverse influences.

Feldgrau borrows many of the elements that made OPETH famous, executed in a mellower manner. On top of this, the female vocals from Elizabeth Matson add a "haunting" atmosphere and result in a somewhat uncomfortable sound. The excellent guitar work reaches its peak point in the closing adventurous riffs. Watersong picks up exactly where its predecessor left us, starting soft but adding groovier riffs in the vein of early PSYCHOTIC WALTZ, which feeling flows throughout the 12 minutes of the track. By far the most powerful riff in this EP is the main theme of Green Iris with its odd-time signatures. The vocals again provide this unconforming feeling and may even alienate a few. Acolyte is by far the mellowest track and flows along the melodic post-rock patterns of The Gathering. However, high-pitched guitars remind of the more adventurous riff patterns of Pain of Salvation, giving ultimately a nice balance to what potentially is the most interesting track of this "compilation".

PHAVIAN's sound is not a conventional one, mixing modern progressive metal with dark atmospheres and avant/bizarre female vocals. This EP does not act as, and is not meant to be, a coherent set of tracks; it works well as an introduction to the band's sound and should appeal to fans of more "eclectic" bands such as TO-MERA. It is available in the band's website for free download.

All taken into account, this is a pretty interesting EP deserving no less than 3.5 stars.

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