Anthropia
Non-Euclidean Spaces
2015
Anthropia is a French prog metal band, that have been around for a few years now and have including this one reached some four releases (one of them live). Now they combine male and female vocals and decent songwriting chops, with a multitude of rather pedestrian influences and indulge in a form of prog, that delves into meandering compositions, with some bristling explosive part, showcasing musical proficiency and then, a switch to atmospheric exercises, as this fourth album, is supposed to be dedicated thematically to the Cthulu mythos and other similar H.P.Lovecraftian horror tales. The problem is that even though the well instrumented parts, are capable, the outcome, that Anthropia achieve is not “threatening” or “dark” enough, to do the subject matter justice. Their style is closer to say Pain Of Salvation (latter day and semi acoustic).
They do seem to have lapses, on songs like “Unknown Kadath” or “Seeds of Decay” that sound, twisted enough – and on occasion on the songs that follow... but again, the atmosphere is not wholly maintained, as a cover of Tunis born, French classical guitarist, Roland Dyens, sonatina “Fuoco”, feels slightly out of place, no matter how technically challenging it might be, or how well executed it is. The over-estimation of their own abilities and overindulgence in lengthy instrumental passages, doesn’t help the material so much and even the inclusion of Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Bodine, Vengeance) and Edu Falaschi (ex-Angra, Almah) as narrators, doesn’t seem to aid them much, but rather feels like a selling point that might be printed on a sticker, than a “gamechanger”. Fair, but nothing otherworldly! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!!
They do seem to have lapses, on songs like “Unknown Kadath” or “Seeds of Decay” that sound, twisted enough – and on occasion on the songs that follow... but again, the atmosphere is not wholly maintained, as a cover of Tunis born, French classical guitarist, Roland Dyens, sonatina “Fuoco”, feels slightly out of place, no matter how technically challenging it might be, or how well executed it is. The over-estimation of their own abilities and overindulgence in lengthy instrumental passages, doesn’t help the material so much and even the inclusion of Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Bodine, Vengeance) and Edu Falaschi (ex-Angra, Almah) as narrators, doesn’t seem to aid them much, but rather feels like a selling point that might be printed on a sticker, than a “gamechanger”. Fair, but nothing otherworldly! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!!