SKYWOUND

***Originally written for theprogmind.com

8.5/10

I always wrestle with words for a new Transport Aerian record. The band has its own sound and its own way of doing things, and they don't care if you like it or not. Or, maybe they do, but they aren't going to change based on your feedback. Anyways, the album releases today, October 29th, and is called Skywound. I like it.

Transport Aerian hails from Belgium. The mastermind and founder is Hamlet. I'm fairly certain that isn't his real name and that he's just playing all of us. He handles vocals, bass, guitars, and programming. With him is a new lineup, namely Stefan Boeykens on guitars and programming, Umut Eldem on keys, Paul De Smet on drums, violin, and programming, and Rachel Bauer on additional vocals and narration.

The band has an unconventional sound. The bio that came with the promo describes them as progressive rock with classic prog elements and a post-modernist bent. The latter is definitely true, but the band plays something I can't describe that well. It is "progressive" in the true meaning of the word, being ambitious, maybe a little odd, and maybe even a little scary. There are crazy rhythms and atmospheres all over the place, and it can take a few listens to process what they play.

This album is probably the heaviest of the Transport Aerian records thus far. I first started listening to the band in 2013 with the dreamy Bleeding, solidified my adoration of their sound with 2015's Darkblue, and was completely blown away by their masterpiece, 2017's Therianthrope. This album, as strange as it might sound, is possibly the most accessible of them all. It has heavy, driving guitars on several tracks, some catchy choruses, and some bright and addictive electronic moments that I love.

In fact, there is something notably "grunge" about this record. Hamlet might crucify me for saying that, but it's true. There is a grit and grime here that sounds amazing with his intelligent lyrics, wild vocals, and reinvigorated sound. Look, I'm the first one who would say that Hamlet's voice is an acquired taste and that some of the off-tone moments in the album make it difficult to love immediately. I get it. But I think this band is worth the time and patience, and the grungy approach makes that a bit easier, I think.

I also think that kind of melancholy and cynicism are purposeful. The album follows tortured lovers as they wade, or maybe drown, in the sea of calamity, political bull[&*!#], and ruin that is the human condition. It is a far-reaching album, one that hits close to home, and one that has some biting things to say.

The album has 13 tracks, all of them playing into each other almost seamlessly. The flow is part of the overall goal here. There are some truly great songs on here, too. "Shall Not Be" is the opener with a vivid, almost Gothic sound to it. Its driving guitars sound great with Hamlet's voice. There is a four-part suite of interlude-type tracks, called "Fracture", that are strewn throughout the album. I really like these songs, ranging from ballads with Rachel on vocals to acoustic guitar musings to my personal favorite, "Fracture II", which has an addictive electronic rhythm. I absolutely love that track. It is crisp, robust, and so much fun to hear.

There are other highlights. "Lunatic" is a track with transitions, especially of the loud-soft kind. It actually sounds a bit "classic rock" in how heavy it is. Actually, maybe it sounds more like classic metal, such as Black Sabbath. I love the grit it has. Another favorite is "Latgalian Gothic", an abstract and even muddled song that explores both electronic and piano. The piano is beautiful, especially the stilting rhythm near the end. I like the single "Falling 20", a bit of a Tom Waits-esque experience at first with gravelly vocals and a sauntering beat. It takes off near the end, though, with all the blurry, darkened fervor that Transport Aerian typically offers. I also love the title track, "Skywound". This is the closer, and it is a pretty crazy piece. While it might sound reserved at first, Hamlet sort of unleashes his vocals in the second half, and it is both terrifying and also awesome. The song overall is subtle and gracious between the moments of mighty singing, though, especially the ending, which it nails perfectly.

This might not be the same level of masterpiece as Therianthrope. I'm not sure Hamlet can ever top that vibrant, peculiar, and haunting work of art. But Skywound is probably my second favorite of his. Transport Aerian sounds fresh and revitalized for a new chapter, and this album has excellent material, especially for a live performance. I'm looking forward to digging into it more as time passes.

Transport Aerian has always been the vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Hamlet, but over the years he has brought in more people so that for this album it is actually a band for the first time as opposed to Hamlet and associated guests. Rachel Bauer (additional vocals & narration) is back for her third album, and they are now joined by Umut Eldem (keyboards, organ, piano), Paul De Smet (drums) and Stefan Boeykens (guitar), while Hamlet provides vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, and programming. I was a huge fan of the last release, 'Theriantrope', so was looking forward to this album, but I must confess that after the first playthrough I really wasn't sure. Part of that is due to the sheer contrast in the styles being provided within the space of 43 minutes, and there are no doubts that certain sections work better than others, but I must confess that by the time I worked through it for the fourth time I found there was a great deal on here to enjoy.

It is a concept release, whose main themes are focused on the tragedy of an ordinary loving couple caught in the turbulent events of the world preparing for the war and standing on the brink of the global catastrophe. I was struck at just how strongly this is neo-prog at times, and if they have not been influenced by Credo I was would be quite surprised, yet there are also sections where they move strongly into prog metal, and allows the guitars to really shine. It is when they veer into a more electronic style, such as on "Latgalian Gothic" where my attention starts to wander, as the programming is far too much to the fore. Hamlet's vocals don't work as they should, and it sounds as if they are deliberately stepping away from what might be expected to create something which at times is more atonal and experimental.

When they are in full flow then that is when they are at their best, creating large sounds which are modern anthems, but while I enjoy experimentation as much as the next, there are times when what they are doing really does not gel in terms of the rest of the album. The result is something which is interesting and intriguing, as opposed to essential, but if Hamlet keeps this group of musicians together I am sure they will become more organic over time.

As a music reviewer, your first task is to accurately convey what you hear. Usually, this isn't too difficult, but when I got my hands on "Skywound," the sixth album by the Belgian prog-metal band Transport Aerian, it took me a few listens to piece together the musical puzzle.

The band, under the inspiring leadership of singer, bassist, and producer Hamlet, defies categorization and creates music on their own terms. We hear an idiosyncratic blend of progressive metal, classic hard rock, electronica, jazz, avant-garde, grunge, and cinematic soundscapes. How intriguing can you get? It ranges from brutal to tender and goes from hard to soft, with nothing coming out of nowhere.

Everything is held together by Hamlet's poetic lyrics and his extraordinarily expressive way of singing. "Skywound" is a concept album about the tragedy of an ordinary loving couple caught in the turbulent events of a world on the brink of catastrophic war. Hamlet sounds surprisingly good without losing control at any point. He has a rich palette of vocal colors with a tone reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne, Maurits Kalsbeek (Egdon Heath), Peter Hammill, and Jargon (Verbal Delirium). His voice is a significant unifying factor in the whole, and there is also the addition of Rachel Bauer with extra vocals and spoken word.

Initially operating as a project, Transport Aerian presents itself as a band, as a quartet, on "Skywound." Besides Hamlet himself and his regular companions Stefan Boeykens on guitar and the aforementioned Bauer, there are two new recruits: Umut Eldem on keyboards and Paul De Smet on drums.

They hit it off right away with the Black Sabbath-like Shall Not Be. The song takes a pleasant, almost psychedelic turn complete with rocking cymbal use while furious soloing ensues. Comparing it to Pain Of Salvation is not far-fetched, especially when the bizarre At The Cliff comes along. Dark ominous electronics alternate with heavy guitar chords. It's a dynamic whole, as the entire album constantly surprises you with contrasts. The intro of Lunatic, for example, features bright guitar plucking that is reminiscent of Pendragon's The Black Knight. The song then bursts at the seams with power and frenzy. Meanwhile, there is also a more subdued fragment with beautiful high bass playing because don't forget that Hamlet is not only a good singer but also an excellent bassist.

The album also includes a suite called Fracture. The four parts are spread across the album, and since the acoustic guitar is central to these parts, they provide some lightness, which is much needed.

The atmosphere of the album is quite pervasive; you can't ignore it. What personally appeals to me the most is the passage with the sinister violin in Latgalian Gothic. That the song has an aura reminiscent of Van Der Graaf Generator is not only delightful but also reflects Hamlet's versatile mindset. The closing title track is another example of brilliant composition. It's a theatrical piece with much grandeur and a surprising ending with spoken word by Bauer.

"Skywound" is an intriguing album that will undoubtedly appeal to metal enthusiasts. However, there is so much progressive ingenuity in the music that the target audience is much larger. Clear?

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com