Naming a third album simply VIII? The progressive band Vicinity from Norway just did it. Since I couldn’t find a further explanation for this title in the promotional text I received, I assume it refers to the eight tracks on this latest record. This third album is also the first introduction of this band for Zware Metalen. Our web zine is generously provided with music when it comes to submitted promos, making it nearly impossible to review every album. But sometimes we are more than happy when something beautiful surfaces. And indeed, something beautiful has definitely emerged! Look at that beautifully detailed album cover. How tasteful is that for a prog-album of this kind? The promo distributor pointed that out correctly. Of course, it’s all about the music, and that doesn’t fall on deaf ears, because the prog enthusiast in me is treated to a whopping sixty-three minutes of music as soon as I force the media player to do its job. Let’s get to work to listen to these eight tracks. And I must say I’m glad I did!
Goddamn! A progressive metal band from Norway for fans of Threshold, Circus Maximus and Dream Theater? How do I place this in any logical context? Well, the latter band has clearly been a significant inspiration, as we cab hear right away in the colossal opener Promised Paradise. Unashamedly flirting with the Americans is an understatement here. Is it a problem? Not at all, because the vocalist, Erling Malm, who was recruited in 2022, makes it a fantastic celebration. Catchy, but also meandering and expansive vocal lines immediately set the stage for everything to come. Add to that the musical craftsmanship of the other band members, which is more than impressive. Drummer Frode Lillevold goes on a full adventure, and the guitarists and keyboardist follow and accompany him seamlessly. After two adventurous prog tracks, it’s time for the impressive and somewhat dramatic Purpose. The Norwegians continue forging their music in a very consistent and focused way, constantly showing true commitment. The music effortlessly draws me into a certain flow, without boring me for a moment. And where the prog enthusiast has been quite spoiled in recent years with bands like Haken, Leprous, Caligula’s Horse and the aforementioned references, the genre now has another fantastic addition in Norway’s Vicinity.
That being said, I literally think Confusion Reactor is a somewhat confusing track. It really took me some time to get used to it. Fortunately, the beautifully elongated melodic vocal lines – often double-recorded – provided enough grip to continue listening. Eventually, the beauty started to surface. DKE is a fine example of obvious Dream Theater worship, and the band should be a little careful in maintaining enough of their own identity. This is, however, only one of the few points of criticism that arose while listening to this diverse album. I also noticed that the choice was made to start with a long track and also end with the almost thirteen-minute Face The Rain. This seems like a deliberate and clever choice because that way the Norwegians can work towards a calmer ending and gradually wind down. So, do not expect a huge explosion at the end, but rather a beautiful ending that gradually fades out. On the other hand, at the start of the song the band immediately explodes in an epic way, with the vocals ensuring emotional impact. Finally, I should mention the somewhat remarkable fact that there are no interludes or transitional passages on this album. The album follows a nice, continuous flow with its eight, predominantly long tracks, which are both ear-pleasing and pretty powerful.
Score:
86/100
Label:
Uprising Records, 2024
Tracklisting:
1. Promised Paradise
2. Distance
3. Purpose
4. Confusion Reactor
5. The Singularity
6. Shape Of Life
7. DKE
8. Face The Rain
Line-up:
- Frode Lillevold – Drums
- Erling Malm – Vocals
- Ivar A. Nyland – Keyboards
- Kim-Marius H. Olsen – Guitar
- Pierre-Nicolai H. Schmidt-Melbye – Bass
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