KARCIUS

An interesting foray into Heavy Prog from these former jazz-rockers from Québec.

1. "Parasite" (6:06) could be any heavy metal band from the 1980s--especially with that overly familiar lead vocalist. (7.75/10)

2. "Supernova" (5:58) taking the band into a more delicate palette of instrumental sounds really works for these guys; it's awesome to hear the piano, acoustic guitars, and more delicate side of Sylvian's voice. A top three song for me. (8.75/10)

3. "The Ladder" (13:46) solid heavy rock with an interesting construction. (24.5/30)

4. "Cosmic Rage" (7:05) starting from the softer, more spacious side works better for this band. Still so familiar--so much like the many "hair metal" bands I'd heard in the 1980s and 90s. (12/15)

5. "Distance Kills" (8:03) interesting Peter Gabriel Passion-like opening leads into a more smooth, easier to engage with full bloom. A top three song for me. (13/15)

6. "A Needle Tree" (15:23) once it gets going (1/3 of the way into it) it sounds like classic heavier BIG BIG TRAIN, MAD CRAYON's Preda, MYRATH, and PINK FLOYD. If this song hadn't taken so long to get started, I would have called this the best song on the album. Great finish with a very engaging and memorable ear worm of a chorus on repeat to the end. (26.5/30)

Total Time 56:21

B-/3.5 stars; a good if inconsistent and sometimes monotonous collection of heavy prog from some very competent musicians. Rated up for production and polished performances (especially that awesome drummer!)

"The First Day" was a real turning point in Karcius's career, since with the entry of Sylvain Auclair on bass and vocals, they left their instrumental stage behind to focus on sung songs.

And the result was for my taste the best they did to date. They still needed to reach the maturity that they have achieved in the later "The Fold" and "Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold", but things were pointing pretty well.

Here we still have compositions quite anchored in jazz and it shows that some of them were intended as instrumentals before the voices were added, but the result is still quite stimulating for a transition album.

Recommended!

Best Tracks: Rest My Head (I like the string arrangements), The Word (a very powerful opening that then gets a little cloudy in the jumble of instrumentals) and Water (I especially like the Hammond organ solo and the good and heavy instrumental section after that)

My Rating: ***

Since the release of the album "The Fold", the band has changed their Jazz Fusion style to a much heavier style. This new album continues in that direction. The opener "Parasite" is full of anger with a heavy atmosphere not only coming from the guitar but also from the voice of Sylvain Auclair. "Supernova" starts in acoustic mode and the intensity grows up as the song progresses in a typical heavy rock fashion. "The Ladder" is the highlight song with many twists and turns, complex time signatures, and some Pink Floyd influence. The song goes back and forth between acoustic and electric. There are some impressive drums parts and cool sounds throughout the song including some groovy bass lines and what I think could be some mellotron parts in the middle and at the end. "Cosmic Rage" is another take on Pink Floyd with a Gilmore guitar-style passage. The drums again are shining with a song that t goes into some complex patterns as the song goes. The last song the epic "Needle Tree" starts in an ambient atmosphere with their first intrusion into their Jazz root. Then it switches off to an Opeth-style groove before returning to a Jazz section and ending in a rare peaceful moment. This is another strong album from Karcius that should give them a boost to present a great show this year I hope.

KARCIUS is the Canadian group formed between 1997 and 2001 on a unique sound in their genre; rock, pop, jazzy, ambient; defining themselves between GABRIEL, STING, PORCUPINE TREE, RADIOHEAD, LED ZEPPELIN and RETURN TO FOREVER all sprinkled with modern sounds on the atmospheres of PINK FLOYD. Fruity prog rock that I name, surprising and diversified music with a measured dose of improvisation; instrumental at the start, evolution with the heavy prog vocal contribution of Sylvain from 2012 for a singular melting pot; a heavy, ponderous, powerful sound, almost grunge at times, delicate at other times; which sends me back to naming also the RIVERSIDE and the last LEPROUS albums. In short, KARCIUS is a singular and inventive group concept, intimate, nervous and bewildering, so let's slip into their latest baby.

"Parasite" dark, rhythmic, jerky start, far from the jazzy fusion label put forward; a metallic riff starting on HAKEN, SOEN, a nervous melodic sound, a peach of hell; a bit of ALICE IN CHAINS, SOUNDGARDEN and PAIN OF SALVATION and this rocky voice that suits perfectly; in short, an explosive climb that moves very pleasantly. "Supernova" follows and contrasts with the established climate, piano and acoustic guitar in the background with Sylvain and his soft, crystalline voice; alternative rock metal coming to mind, more rock but prog resonances in the musical score, the rocky voice again; a playful then energetic guitar solo that would belong in atmospheric prog metal; a stunning title. "The Ladder" for one of the two complex river titles; a plot, a basic crescendo and exploratory ramifications on the dark, unhealthy side of rock before, supposed to disturb the previous generation; a break at Sébastien's Mellotron and we find ourselves in the frightening climates of the PORCUPINE TREE at the start. A progressive synth à la RUDESS, a bass à la TAYLOR of QUEEN, it goes joyfully everywhere until the return of the catchy metal riff; a solo and the sound of PAIN OF SALVATION which returns, an iconic, dreamlike, majestic title.

"Cosmic Rage" for the tribal piece with percussion and clear drums and that reverberating guitar; nervous, bewitching riff forming a multilayer of musical colors; its rise to belch and go into a trance with Sylvain who does not leave anyone indifferent, making his voice moan like no one else; think of Daniel GILDENLÖW for the mixture of hope and sadness. "Distance Kills" always on a tribal connotation, an electric tune that makes you move your legs without noticing it, this rhythm that to use the archangel GABRIEL at the beginning of his solo albums, the bass amplifying everything; track goes everywhere with this crescendo, this tortured guitar solo and this piano finale which is only the prelude to the chaining "A Needle Tree" and the dreamlike intro, a jazzy keyboard for the first time in the album , spatial digression, ambient, it's up to you; the voice arrives helped by an acoustic guitar, dry, with a sound in its raw state. Here it is prog melancholy atmosphere and you have to wait the 5 minutes to see the title take off, fly away; 9 minutes and this roll of pads, heavy machine gun salvo on a piano à la Joe JACKSON then the synth solo à la WRIGHT of PINK FLOYD melts, then the enjoyable guitar solo, crystalline notes on this heavy and tenacious rhythm and a powerful finale .

KARCIUS has just released the album of the month, in this rather sad beginning of the year; a captivating sound, seeking its imprint on old basic sounds, rehashing certain others to release raw current notes, prog metal in tune with the times, standing out from its jazzy spirit to give the current prog between alternative and crossover; KARCIUS invites us to reflect on the direction of his music in today's world and demonstrates that prog is dead; that it has transformed, mutated into this unique sound that PORCUPINE TREE opened up in its time, a clean sound with reminiscences; the loop is closed, rock has indeed given birth to this timeless progressive movement where rhythm, atmospheric images, fruity colors, emotions and riffs plunge into their unique, disorienting sound, with great art. Not by chance that the jack of all trades Tony LINGREN is behind the controls. KARCIUS talks about the different colors of man's addiction and insatiability with money, gold, drugs, strong emotions; a cult of personality on human self-destruction, the sequel to the delirium of 'The Fold' for a simply magnificent album, you have been warned.

After the excellent "The Fold", Karcius have needed four years to offer us the long-awaited continuation!

And fortunately, this great Canadian group has managed to follow in the footsteps of "The Fold" but increasing the intensity, giving us their heaviest album to date, but without giving up their jazz influences and their usual skill in each and every one of the instruments.

A special mention also goes to Sylvain Auclair's voices, which sound more integrated and powerful than ever. Just listen to Supernova! Absolutely spectacular.

So, if you haven't discovered Karcius yet, this excellent "Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold" is a perfect place to start getting to know them.

Best Tracks: the album has a fairly homogeneous quality, but if I have to choose, I would pick Supernova (one of the most epic choruses of recent years), The Ladder (spectacular instrumental section, with a bass solo included, and wonderful guitars) and A Needle Tree (the song starts bringing back de melody of Goodbye, one of the best songs of their previous work "The Fold", and after that it develops in the most atmospheric and obscure track of the album)

My Rating: ****

Karcius' third album, "Episodes", brought us back to this excellent Canadian band!

And this time, fortunately, they focused more on songwriting and less on mere instrumental virtuosity, which made this "Episodes" their less chaotic but also their best album to date, also introducing certain elements that would be key to their music from then on, like the heavy guitar riffs we can hear on the excellent "Purple King".

Without a doubt, I prefer the last stage of the band on albums like "The Fold" or "Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold", which was released today 18th March 2022, but this "Episodes" was already a very good instrumental album and announced a group worthy of more attention.

Best Songs: the Elements Suite (three fine tracks full of jazz, heavy and pure prog) and Purple King (metal-oriented and inspiring track, with some influences of Deep Purple)

My Rating: ***

"The Fold" is an album that I love. In fact, it's one of my favorite releases of 2018.

That is why I am listening to the entire discography of this interesting Canadian group. And after the good debut "Sphere", now it's up to "Kaleidoscope".

However, despite having the same elements as "Sphere", this second album was more tedious to listen to, due to the lack of catchy melodies and a song scheme that is too anarchic for my taste.

Maybe it's just that my style of music don't lean so much towards jazz fusion, but honestly I would only recommend "Kaleidoscope" to true fans of instrumental jazz-prog.

Best Tracks: Tunnel (intense and dark) and Épilogue (I like the flamenco touches in this song)

My Rating: **

KARCIUS is a Canadian music group founded in 2001, a little jazzy, hilarious because many unique; ranging from prog (but what does that mean !!) to jazz, to fusion, to pop, the music room, also some post and stoner places, distilling notes in which we could recognize PINK FLOYD, SANTANA or AL DI MEOLA. His music is fruity, innovative, unique, adding tortured atmospheres, one can also find there the DREAM THEATER, PORCUPINE TREE from the first version. This CD follows the DVD released on July 25 recorded at the Crescendo Festival 20th in France. The group's objective is to develop different musical ideas and explore styles to generate an often instrumental music, and surprisingly diverse. They say their music as "a power hiding deep in our thoughts and that may affect our thoughts, make unconscious and nourish our memories"; in fact, the trip they offer us can be atmospheric, heavy, depressed, eye-catching and bringing to the adventure. The problem or advantage of this group is that there are not moments that sound hollow and diversity takes you lots of different musical drawers, forcing the ear to look for trends, reminiscences or flashbacks induced thereof.

This live shows 3 titles "Episodes", 2 titles of "The First Day" and all the songs from their latest album "The Fold". For this, we can realize the progressive work of four musicians from the disparity of the pieces and their sequence over live: "Absence of Light", "Something" and "Hardwired" begin the set with a beat heart to the "dark Side of the Moon", a dark limit starting stoner then pleasurable themes pretty nasty, almost metal: at one point, a riff of Petrucci era "Train of Thought" greasy, then a flight of clear Notes the voice sets the tone for the Hammond organ synth gives intimate atmosphere and the guitar is now eyeing the solos of David Gilmour divinely warm and expressive; the rhythmic base takes about a tortured and almost melancholy atmosphere. I will include at GENESIS period reminiscences "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" just for the voice of Sylvain tortured. "Incident" gives a taste of their most significant sound with piano entrance and jazzy composition in the strings of AL DI MEOLA, it becomes more progressive in the sense of improvisation, more complex, it is also quieter and less flayed, but break the piano holds spellbound tirelessly point. "Water" and "Hypnotic" give more in the vintage sound with earlier achievements with organ, guitar pulling a jazzy pop and development, to escape according to our desires; the second title is most striking with a solo aerial pest, bright beautiful.

"Goodbye" comes, first of three new titles chained the last album; here a little voice at the Hogarth sounds again very strong, glowing break halfway through mid space, mid floydien my best title, enjoyable limit giving the desire to be present at the concert (good for KARCIUS information was also this 15 days earlier at a festival where I was hanging by chance, and I confirm that it was enjoyable!). "Burning My Dreams" drives the point home with the title almost metal, almost alternating, or almost OPETH WILSON, even PAIN OF SALVATION in their darkest moments, a long piece while mounted with a snarling riff again; we find the KARCIUS again, who does not hesitate to explore the heavy trend. "The Fold" '' destroyed the beam '' (force to drive the point it will no longer remain a lot of wood! Yes I digress, but my column is my own and I'm trying to make it a little more alive again!). With the intro titanic some may decry, voice limit death much like the first mounted Mikael Akerfeldt or those of Mariusz Duda, amazing after quoting AL DI MEOLA in the middle of the concert! You might think there during a concert of nu-metal, or heavy metal! "Purple King" ends the set with this energetic capacity, heavy sound, catchy, rhythmic, a condensed finally knows what KARCIUS do is explosive wish is afterwards heavier than the CD studio My opinion; as what this group is the displacement. voice limit death much like the first mounted Mikael Akerfeldt or those of Mariusz Duda, amazing after quoting AL DI MEOLA in the middle of the concert! You might think there during a concert of nu- metal, or heavy metal! "Purple King" ends the set with this energetic capacity, heavy sound, catchy, rhythmic, a condensed finally knows what KARCIUS do is explosive wish is afterwards heavier than the CD studio My opinion; as what this group is the displacement. voice limit death much like the first mounted Mikael Akerfeldt or those of Mariusz Duda, amazing after quoting AL DI MEOLA in the middle of the concert! You might think there during a concert of nu-metal, or heavy metal! "Purple King" ends the set with this energetic capacity, heavy sound, catchy, rhythmic, a condensed finally knows what KARCIUS do is explosive wish is afterwards heavier than the CD studio My opinion; as what this group is the displacement. finally a summary of what is known KARCIUS do is explosive wish is afterwards heavier than on the studio CD in my opinion; as what this group is the displacement. finally a summary of what is known KARCIUS do is explosive wish is afterwards heavier than on the studio CD in my opinion; as what this group is the displacement.

Note "The Space Between" a bonus most hardened rock studio to LED ZEPPELIN and recovery "Water" in acoustics to clean a little ears that have taken the thunderous sound, melting during the 90 minutes of the show cousins. I pass over quickly because the strength of the album in public is undeniable here.

Well, what about where I, who had already seen them in concert? I have not the DVD because when I listen to "The Fold" I have the concert even before the eyes. I do not like live now for the repetition, for mixing worse than the studio version in general; there point of comparison, this live is worth the trip for fishing, for the energy released and precisely for adrenaline procured listening. This album is a concentrate of synthetic music prog, an inventive musical melting pot, carnal and bewitching.

It's following the invitation to the Crescendo festival in France that Karcius decided to record and write their last album "The Fold" who is played entirely here. The live show is the best way to promote your album for all bands. The sound of Karcius has evolved over the years. If the first albums were recorded like sketches of improvised music exploring many styles of music, "The Fold" is the new sound of the band that had a more clear idea of what kind of music they wanted to create. Sebastien L'esperance guitarist and producer has been listening to plenty of metal recently and wanted that heavier sound in the new album leaving the Jazz style of the past behind.

If the dark atmosphere of the new album is present here on this live show, half of the show contains songs from "The First Day" and "Episodes" which gives some lighter material to digest. The song "Incident" brings some lighter mood with his Caribbean flavor to change the pace and mood of the first 3 tracks. There are some instrumental songs with their past Jazz influence, and the last one "Purple King" is on the heavier side of things. We can appreciate the talent of every musician here including the drummer. The highlight song for me is "Hardwired" with his groovy beat and the mean vocals. The concert has been mixed in surround nicely and the new album as well.

Fine jazz-rock fusion debut album from Karcius!

Produced by Victor a Montréal and Jonathan Cabot, the disc was recorded between 2001 till 2003, and the sound is sadly just average despite the incredible musicianship that the band contains. This irregular production make the tracks suffer throughout the whole album with some moments where the instruments tracks just don't fit like the band pretended.

Nevertheless, the compositions are a very stimulating mixture of the best jazz-rock fusion imaginable much in the vein of Chick Corea, Return to Forever and similar acts, with some really heavy guitar riffs which are the best part of the album in my opinion. This controlled power explosions make the hearing of Sphere not boring at all and always surprising, making it a very worthy jazz- fusion album for me, although that's usually not my cup of tea.

Best Tracks: Liquid Meat (rough and surprising song, with scratchy and dirty keyboards), the suite Lunatik (top-notch jazz-heavy fusion) and Absolute Decadence (stunning guitars towards the end)

Conclusion: having only heard Sphere and The Fold from Karcius, I must say that I clearly prefer the last one. Nevertheless, Sphere is a jazz-metal fusion record with enough funny moments to resist many plays.

Strongly recommended!

My rating: ***