|
"“Reconciliation” is an impressive first album, laying a solid foundation for the future of ALMO, which lacks a real personality to make a real impact..."
|
4/5
|
|
|
When we listen to a debut album, we often hope to detect a spark, a promise, something that tells us the band in question will go far. With “Reconciliation”, Benjamin Almö Thorsell, alias ALMO, delivers a record which, while relying on the codes of progressive metal, seeks to tell a deeply personal story. So, promise kept? Yes, but with a few nuances.
From the very first notes of 'Rain', we sense that ALMO immediately knows where they want to take us. The track opens with a delicate melody that gradually thickens, giving way to powerful riffs and a syncopated rhythm. This masterful play of contrasts is reminiscent of bands like Haken or TesseracT, capable of juggling softness and intensity. But while this introduction beautifully lays the foundations for this debut album, it perhaps lacks a touch of audacity, that little something that would have taken us by surprise.
More introspective, almost melancholy, the second track, 'Vilsen', alternates acoustic passages with more nervous flights of fancy. This kind of duality is reminiscent of Opeth at its best - “Damnation” comes to mind for the calmer moments, and “Blackwater Park” for the surges of power. While the whole is enjoyable, it lacks the depth to rival its illustrious inspirations.
With 'Bliss', ALMO shows that it can also think outside the box. This track, brighter and almost pop in its approach, contrasts with the rest of the album. The vocal harmonies are particularly successful, and there's a freshness that recalls some of Leprous's experimentation (“Malina”, for example). This moment of lightness is welcome, but also leaves a mixed impression.
In contrast, 'In Dreams' slows the pace and sets an ethereal, almost soaring mood. The layers of sound recall the dreamlike universe of Devin Townsend (“Ghost”), but the track struggles to maintain dramatic tension over its duration. It's beautiful, of course, but not unforgettable - rather logical for a transitional track.
But the real challenge of the album remains the eponymous track, a twenty-minute piece that is the backbone of the project. Through its multiple sections, this track explores a wide variety of styles: djent riffs, almost folk-like acoustic passages, epic flights of fancy... a fine mix that prog fans will relish. But then comes the recurring problem with this album, namely that ALMO's music can be described as almost “copy-and-paste” of the behemoths Haken and Periphery, displaying a closeness that's a little too blatant, even if the exercise is extremely commendable.
But beyond that, there are some magnificent moments. The recurring vocal harmonies bring a welcome unity, and ALMO proves that it is capable of composing memorable melodies. Similarly, the production is impeccable, every detail is clear, every instrument finds its place... But even this perfection can prove to be a hindrance: where an album like Between The Buried And Me's “Colors” explodes with almost chaotic creativity, “Reconciliation” sometimes gives the impression of being too wise, too controlled.
Nevertheless, “Reconciliation” is an impressive debut album that lays a solid foundation for ALMO's future. But if they are to make a real impact in the long term, they will need to be more daring, to think outside the box and breathe real personality into their compositions. - Official website
|
|
|
TRACK LISTING:
01. Rain 02. Vilsen 03. Hope 04. Bliss 05. In Dreams 06. Winterhound 07. Panic Attack!!! 08. Reconciliation
LINEUP:
Benjamin Almö Thorsell: Chant / Guitares / Basse
|
|
|
|
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
|
|
|
|
|
Top of the page
|
|
|
(0) COMMENT(S)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
|
STAFF:
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER REVIEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|