We
were waiting for this record with
great anxiety. Not because they moved
to another -international- label
or they got a place in the bill of
ProgPower festival, but we wanted
to see if they could reach even further
with all these promising conditions
they had.
For me there is no
doubt that this is the best Greek
metal release in the past five years
in all genres and what raises it even
higher is that the guys behind Wastefall
are humble and focused on what they
are doing (I have plenty cases in
my mind of bands that -sadly-
do the exact opposite). Back to the
album now…
The album is not
so easy to listen as you may think.
The obvious influences from Pain of
Salvation gradually start to fade
as you listen more and more to "Self
Exile". Although the sound is
massive and resembles to nu-metalic
soundscapes, the album is not so aggressive
as it seems. Thanks to the emotional
side and the sensitivity of the band,
lyrically and musically, the album
is quite multifaceted and constantly
reveals new faces. Take for example
"Another Empty Haven"
and "Utopia Fragmented".
Both songs unleash a crystal clear
image of how aggressiveness and emotion
collide. "Dance of Descent"
and "Sleepwalk" will crush
you -especially if you are emotionally
vulnerable- with the profound lyricism,
while "4 Minutes to Abandon"
will make you recall the subtle and
gentle side of Nevermore.
I guess that you
do not need testimonials or to deposit
my own opinion about Tommy Newton,
who is behind the sound console. The
production is faultless and very compact,
very strong. This means that you listen
clearly to everything is sounding
at that time and yet hides a few secrets
to find in future listenings. I also
don’t want to comment the performance
of the band, just to add my impression
about their huge improvement they
show.
I am very positive
that, despite our enthusiasm and the
satisfaction for their wonderful achievement,
this release will not be the breaking
point for the band. I am anxiously
anticipating their next step, because
the experiences that they will sum
from all these events and circumstances
have to make them even stronger. Their
new bet or better said their new goal,
is to prove their own character and
judging by their works already I think
that they will do it. They have to
leave aside every "external
variable", every influence and
tread their own way. If they manage
to do so, then I need no further research
to find the new leaders of the scene.
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