Standing Ovation
Gravity Beats Nuclear
Inverse Records
2015
Standing Ovation is a Finnish bunch that enjoys progging it out. They’re releasing their sophomore, only three years after their 2012 debut “The Antikythera Mechanism”, which seemingly did get them some fans.
They are an interesting if not bit quirky sort, where they fuse smooth vocals, that manage to have some dynamics, without really going for crazy range demonstrations. Their instrumental side can vary from prog rock to prog metal and everything in between. They have enough sophistication to sound interesting and not pretentious.
The opener “23+23” is a short instrumental, that’s quite spacey prog rock, melancholic acoustic guitars and synths weave an interesting canvas.
“Permafrost” almost shocks with its metal drumming, but it’s more sophisticated than going for 3434003403 notes per minute and that makes it quite endearing.
“Killer, Iron” is a dark and foreboding prog metal track, clearly tipping the scales into metal territory…. while “Hellbillies” is similar, and quite funny as it sung from a cannibal’s POV… tasty!
“Fool’s Parade” is drawing back into a more rock territory, but its atmosphere is quite sickening and evil… so it’s not really smothering and sweet.
“Lifeline”, which clocks at nearly twenty minutes, is probably one of the better things going on in the album. Instrumentally, the keys tend to be quite reminiscent of Marillion, but the overall style is quite more adventurous in a latter day POS, sort of way.
“The Great Attractor” is another quirky little number (not really that little at 7+ minutes) that goes through almost every atmosphere imaginable, from very smooth to very complicated and enveloping ones with a variety of sentiments being reflected along the way.
“Run Little Mouse Run” is a lot more straightforward, but here the band goes for some showing off, that is at least balanced out by some interesting yet quite coldly delivered melodies in the background, in a very technocratic setting.
“I Am” is an acoustic piece that closes the album in a very delicate manner. It’s quite sorrowful, but also beautiful at the same time.
Definitely an interesting and quite artistic bunch that seeks your attention… few will be bothered as most will be seeking out the new Dream Theater, but those who will… they will not regret it.
They are an interesting if not bit quirky sort, where they fuse smooth vocals, that manage to have some dynamics, without really going for crazy range demonstrations. Their instrumental side can vary from prog rock to prog metal and everything in between. They have enough sophistication to sound interesting and not pretentious.
The opener “23+23” is a short instrumental, that’s quite spacey prog rock, melancholic acoustic guitars and synths weave an interesting canvas.
“Permafrost” almost shocks with its metal drumming, but it’s more sophisticated than going for 3434003403 notes per minute and that makes it quite endearing.
“Killer, Iron” is a dark and foreboding prog metal track, clearly tipping the scales into metal territory…. while “Hellbillies” is similar, and quite funny as it sung from a cannibal’s POV… tasty!
“Fool’s Parade” is drawing back into a more rock territory, but its atmosphere is quite sickening and evil… so it’s not really smothering and sweet.
“Lifeline”, which clocks at nearly twenty minutes, is probably one of the better things going on in the album. Instrumentally, the keys tend to be quite reminiscent of Marillion, but the overall style is quite more adventurous in a latter day POS, sort of way.
“The Great Attractor” is another quirky little number (not really that little at 7+ minutes) that goes through almost every atmosphere imaginable, from very smooth to very complicated and enveloping ones with a variety of sentiments being reflected along the way.
“Run Little Mouse Run” is a lot more straightforward, but here the band goes for some showing off, that is at least balanced out by some interesting yet quite coldly delivered melodies in the background, in a very technocratic setting.
“I Am” is an acoustic piece that closes the album in a very delicate manner. It’s quite sorrowful, but also beautiful at the same time.
Definitely an interesting and quite artistic bunch that seeks your attention… few will be bothered as most will be seeking out the new Dream Theater, but those who will… they will not regret it.