BLACK SCIENCE AND WHITE LIES

This Norwegian band's third album is still captained by an ongoing member of the Windmill in guitarist Stig Andre Clason, as well as the latter's current drummer in Kristoffer Utby. The line-up is rounded out by new bassist Emil Olsen, keyboardist Bard Thostensen and terrific lead vocalist Hans Andreas Brandal, almost the same crew as on the previous 2019 album "Alienism" which was very well received in the prog community. The intervening five years gave the group a fair amount of time to configurate their opus, as the third album can often make or break a budding career. Well, offering only 2 very long, multi-segmented tracks can be viewed as a highly risky endeavour, yet the lads boldly forge straight into the upper levels of credibility, with an incredible release. Not surprisingly, their brazen vision was to suggest two different moods, pulled off with flawless precision.

The darkly menacing "White Lies", as the title clearly proposes, they choose a stark essay on our current status of world affairs with a rambling sermon on the futility of what we are led to believe, all sides guilty of exaggeration, opinion-peddling, and blatant politicizing absolutely everything, the confusion and frustration succinctly evoked in the powerful instrumental battering unleashed by the irate guitars, the venting keyboards, the galloping bass line and the full-throttle drum support. The vocals are off the charts, moving from the frantic opening speech on "doctrine", passing via a flurry of female voices and finishing off with some rampaging lead vocals that certainly impress. The alternating softer sections weld perfectly with the brasher yet fluid guitar spirals, the voice now hushed in apparent despair to 'save my soul', backing chorus adding depth to the dense arrangement. Emil Olsen wobbles brilliantly, the screeching axe finds the room to grind and drums providing much needed wallop. Bard unhinges his various keyboards from any restraint, delivering a monstrous barrage, on organ specifically, a real treat for both the ears and the soul to which they are connected! Naturally, the unrestricted pressure has now been elevated to the point of damnation, and the volcanic nature of the explosion hits home, and hard. A brief moment of silence, then a modern multi-voiced version of a barbershop quartet enters the discussion before returning to the molten fury but with a funky gothic whirlwind coloration that defies the standards. Bombastic, an over the top and fascinating piece of music.

"Black Science" showcases nearly 23 minutes of a perhaps more old-school melodic side, a tinge of medieval modulation creating a complex and emotive prog rock that shows off the exceptional chops all the players clearly possess in abundance. The melodic themes instantly adhere to the pleasure nodes, the vacillating organ doing unique damage, ably assisted by the conjugation of a tight as a screw rhythm section and capped off by Clason's magically evolutive guitar lines. Andreas sings in a more traditional prog style, at times a capella, rekindling the GG hint, the brooding bass guitar enjoying finding silence in order to push forth a now more sinister mood, Crimsonian touches ("Crimson Skies" sub-section) that verge of sorcery and enough variations to satisfy the diehard fans of adventurous music. The lovely piano sections are sensational, a moment of dissension amid all the chapters evoked in the Book of Necromancy. The musical wizardry returns for another spin, alternating cinematographic moments of horror and serene impressions of fantasy, keeping the avid listener on their tippy- toes, unaware of the next direction to be undertaken. Redemption becomes the final resting place, as with every living thing on our planet, the end transforming itself into a new beginning. The cycle of life, a final atonement, a perpetual salvation. The massive finale is crushingly poignant, the finest album ending in many a moon. I feel contentedly drained.

Two massively entertaining slaps in the face, punching also the gut of indifference and blandness. Incredible slice of modern prog at its very finest, with impeccable delivery and pace. Definitely a top contended for the 2024 podium.

5 Trespasses

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