DREAMS NO LONGER HESITATE

A big thanks to Ian who has recommended this band at different times over the years. COMBAT ASTRONOMY play an Avant style of music, quite dark with bassoon. This gets tagged with "Brutal Prog" as well with those heavy, distorted sounds that are quite prominent at times here. What a pleasant surprise it was to hear Elaine Di Falco's voice who many will know from THINKING PLAGUE and HUGHSCORE. Plenty of electronics, programmed sounds, horns which are usually dissonant, flute and bass flute, electric piano and the usual rock instruments. A 5 piece band out of the USA this album really scratched an itch for me a few weeks ago and has received lots of spins as a result.

The first two songs really start the album off the right way in my opinion with Elaine's reserved vocals not sounding as RIO as with THINKING PLAGUE. "Lightning In Her Eyes" with the brutal sounds as vocals join in. Just a catchy sound believe it or not with vocals standing out with the heaviness. "Touch The Moon" is even better in my opinion. More laid back with plenty of vocals again and I like the vocal arrangements here. Oh and the electric piano is a nice touch. "I Can't Breathe" is quite heavy with reserved vocals and electric piano standing out. I like the vocal melodies late.

"Alive Inside Eternity" opens heavily with spoken words then dissonant horns take over along with some experimental sounds. It settles some after 4 minutes but there's these screaming sounds. It turns heavier again as a loud humming arrive then more horns, bass and electric piano. It kicks back in again. "Sentinel" is the longest at almost 17 minutes. This is such a trip. High pitched horn sounds cry out of the dark atmosphere. Pretty cool. Heaviness around a minute with vocals in tow. It settles right down after 6 1/2 minutes before rising up again before 8 minutes. Horns to the fore after 9 1/2 minutes. Lots of dissonance here and vocals return a minute later. It settles again around 11 minutes, slow and heavy before picking up with vocals, flute and more. Check out the bass horn too.