August Life, the brainchild of Gert Nijboer (Vengeance, Picture, Highway Chile) and Bryan Ketelaars (Armageddon, Auracle), released their strong debut New Eternity in 2018. On that record the duo delivered thick, heavy metal with progressive influences, in the vein of what was often produced in the United States during the eighties. Now they return with its successor, Passage Of Time.
What immediately stands out when listening to Passage Of Time is the sound that producer Markus Teske has given the album. Not that the debut sounded bad, but this new record feels much more open and layered, with opener Guidelines practically bursting out of the speakers. In this twelve-minute track the band pulls out all the stops to prove that time has not stood still since their debut. The progressive influences are far more prominent, and the song unleashes a torrent of riffs and solos from guitarist Gert Nijboer. A glorious way to kick things off.
The following Blackened Ground is a more traditional metal track in which vocalist Bryan Ketelaars steals the show. He commands a powerful and clean voice, but always adds just the right amount of grit to give his performance an aggressive edge. His voice is in fact a defining element on this record. Just listen to the menacing Constructing Monsters or the epic Tidal Waves, where he showcases a tremendous range reminiscent of Jon Oliva in his prime.
That’s not to downplay guitarist Gert Nijboer. He dishes out massive riffs with ease, and his solos are full of arpeggios and other neck gymnastics. His playing has a loose, organic feel that evokes fond memories of the pre-YouTube generation of guitarists, before everything became so clinical.
After nearly an entire album of flexing their musical muscles, the vinyl edition closes with the more restrained The Water. It begins delicately, gradually builds up, and then retreats again into a subdued ending. If you’re listening to the CD, you’ll get the additional acoustic piece Air To Breathe, which gives you some extra time to catch your breath after the onslaught of Passage Of Time.
Do I have no criticism at all of this album? Actually, yes: in the longer tracks – especially Guidelines – it sometimes feels as though too many ideas are crammed into a single piece, or that one modulation too many has been introduced. But what dominates above all is that August Life have delivered a remarkably powerful and varied second album, one that fans of US heavy metal as well as progressive European bands such as Vanden Plas and Evergrey will certainly appreciate.
Score:
84/100
Label:
No Dust Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Guidelines
- Blackened Ground
- Passage Of Time
- Constructing Monsters
- Tidal Waves
- Lost In Nothing
- The Water
- Air To Breathe
Line-up:
- Bryan Ketelaars – zang
- Gert Nijboer – gitaar
- Harry den Hartog – bas
- René Kroon – toetsen
- Richard van Leeuwen – drums
Links: