PERIHELION SHIP

Perihelion Ship's debut album "A Rare Thunderstorm in Spring" is pretty damn good one. I don't know many bands that has as good first album as this one. The genre is progressive rock/metal. Hammond/Mellotron is a big part of the album. Feels little bit like Deep Purple's "Jon Lord" is behind the keyboards. Drumming is really good here. Bass and guitar also does the work perfectly, some amazing and heavy riffs.Vocals are in my opinion superior compared to many other bands what I've heard. They mix up clean vocals and the growling (as opeth). Overall, all the instruments are in perfect balance as it should be.

1. Misplaced Rainfall 9.5/10, The song stars with a sad and interesting mellotron leading to some acoustic guitar before the heavy stuff kicks in. Some really good drumming here! The part that comes around 2.15 is simply incredible. The Mellotron in the backround with the amazing guitar riff makes this unique. Last minute or so is pretty dark. Reminds me a lot of "Van Der Graaf Generator's" Plague of the Lighthouse Keepers". One of the best songs to introduce the bands style.

2. The Emperor Idea 9/10, The one that needed the most listens to get into but now I love it. Harsh, heavy, propably the heaviest song on the album. A lot of put into one song and it does not get boring at all. Some amazing parts but my favourite is the ending just before the classical guitar outro. One of the better riffs I've heard.

3. Fool of White Antlers 8.5/10, The "Pop" song of the album. The first four minutes are nice calm and beatiful music with a nice chorus. Then the song starts to get little bit heavier before it reaches it ending, which is evil. Really good one too.

4. The Poet from the Mad Moon, 8.5/10, The shortest song on the album. This song features a lot of great riffs with a nice Hammond solo in the ending. Again, an amazing song...

A Rare Thunderstorm in Spring, 9.5/10, The longest song (over 20mins). This one is prog rock/metal epic! It starts with a great 2 min instumental beginning leading to one of the most beatiful clean vocals. I love when he sings "The man stood at an edge of green. While the abyss swirled around. Inside the swirl, he could see. The moon and stars and sun ". Around 6.45 comes one of my favourite parts. Harsh and evil, just how I like it. Some great drumming here too! Then it varies between softer and heavier parts before comes the next amazing clean vocals around 11.45. Walking to the city. I see them burning. The grey wind is moving the flames apart. Unique lyrics here! From here It's pure pleasure to the ending, which is beatiful too.

Don't miss this one! One of the very top prog albums ever made. This band that requires way more recognition. Believe me, you won't be disappointed...

"Perihelion Ship" is a progressive metal band from the land of the thousand lakes (Finland). The first album was fantastic but I think the second one is even a tad better.

1. New Sun 9/10, A slow and proggy beginnining (resembles the 70's prog!) with nice clean vocals leads to a pretty cool and fast-paced section with great riffs. Love all the instruments here, they really suit up together well. Instrumental section in the middle is amazing (but the one in the "New Sun?" is even better!) The whole song build-ups greatly for the last minute or tho, super song to start the album.

2. Bird of Fire 9/10, This song always reminds me of the "Immigrant Song". Only thing is I don't know which one is better... Short powerful and really rocking! Growling in the climax of the song is outstanding (around 1.50). Only one I can think of is as good singer is the master himself "Mikael Åkerfeldt". Great song indeed.

3. The Sad Mountain 9/10, Epic intro, some great drumming, keyboards and bass (as in all songs). Some great clean vocal too. From the 4min mark it starts building up for the amazing, amazing guitar solo! One of the coolest rhytmn changes I've ever heard.

4. River's Three 8.5/10, Mellow keyboards and acoustic guitar, that's sometimes all you need right? A fully instrumental song with some great guitar playing. Kind of "Al Di Meola" meets sadness.

5. Wind of No Echoes (8.5/9)/10, Mellotron is the name of the game. First four minutes are some cool instumental music with pretty epic mellotron! Then it leads to a pretty evil growing with some nice riffs and a beatiful clean vocals in the end. Just a little bit weaker maybe than the first three longer songs, not compeltely sure tho...

6. New Sun? 10/10, Here it comes, the best song on the album hands down! Could maybe fit to my top three metal songs of all time. Rivals even the majestic "Ghost of perdition". The beginning is some pretty fast playing with a great clean chorus. Then a mystic keyboard leads to top 10 instrumental parts, ever... I call it the "Leprechaun", if you have played "Demon Souls" you might get it :D Absolutely killer and the best section on the whole album. The song ends with the same chorus as the first song "New Sun", what a fantastic way to end the album. Magnum opus!

I really, really recommend this album. For me is as good as "Blackwater Park" or "Still Life". I like to compare it to "Opeth" as it really feels like it but at the same time it doesn't, as they have their own sound. Also, don't forget to listen the first one also!