AEON ZEN: Enigma (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Hardly more than two years after the very successful "The Face Of The Unknown", Richard Hinks comes back with a third album whose intentions in 2013 are obviously more ambitious. As a proof, the recent signature on Nigthmare Records, a successful machine in progressive metal.

With this 'Enigma', Aeon Zen releases a progressive metal solidly anchored on the classic bases of the genre and brings his own reading of metal: technical, complex, modern. The influences are assimilated, digested and transcended. Thus, if one thinks of Threshold, Shadow Gallery or Symphony X while listening to this album, one is quickly carried away in Rich Hinks' universe thanks to his unique creative touch. The variations of atmospheres, tempos, rhythms and the connections between these different parts seem to be flowing quite naturally.

The strong point of the album is undoubtedly the immense talent of his multi-instrumentalist leader. His virtuosity on guitar and bass enlightens each track, each riff, each solo. His ability to create groovy bass lines, powerful riffs (the one of "Warning" is to stick to the wall), as well as melodies of a delightful harmony, floods the whole album. When, in addition, the man has the good idea to surround himself with singers as diverse as complementary, the result can be nothing but excellent.

Because the vocal parts are certainly the strong point of the album. Not only did he find a talented singer in the person of Andi Kravljaca, Hinks had the good idea to invite three other excellent vocalists of the metal-prog scene, Nate Loosemore (Lost in Thought), Jonny Tatum (Eumeria) touching on "Seven Hills" or "Eternal Snow" and Atle Petersen (Above Symmetry - ex-Aspera). The latter endows us with several relevant interventions, with his warm and hoarse voice making marvels in different styles. Finally, a few growls punctuate some tracks, judiciously and sparingly ed, and performed by Richard Hinks.

This blend of influences and personalities is the key point of this album. And if we add the coherence both in the writing and the composition, as well as an outstanding production (directed by Hinks himself), we get an album ready to impose itself as one of the major productions of this beginning of the year in a range where the competitors struggle to raise themselves to such a technical and creative level.

Aeon Zen therefore intends to assert itself as an asset of the British metal like Threshold. If this 'Enigma' will satisfy the hardcore fans of progressive metal, it is aimed at a much wider metal audience, thanks to a very unusual variety and coherence. - Official website

AEON ZEN

ENIGMA

NIGHTMARE

PROGRESSIVE METAL