EVOLUTION - CREATIO EX NIHILIO

"Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Portsmouth based UK progressive rock/ metal act Enochian Theory. The first album being "A Monument To The Death Of An Idea (2007)". Enochian Theory is a three-piece act consisting of Ben Harris-Hayes on keyboards/ guitars and vocals, Shaun Rayment on bass and Sam Street on drums. The album was released on the 3rd of August 2009 through Anomalous Music Group which is an independent label the group has set up themselves.

"Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio" features thirteen tracks and a playing time of 48:35 minutes. The songs seque into each other to form a concept and this is the kind of album that is best enjoyed as a whole. There are a couple of short instrumental compositions that works like bridges between the longer tracks and help create the right atmosphere to support the lyrics. The music is melancholic, emotional and often very beautiful. References to acts such as Porcupine Tree (latter day), Katatonia, Anathema and Antimatter are not far off IMO. The music on "Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio" is not really progressive metal but more a mix of progressive rock and occasional metal elements like the aggressive vocals in "Apathia" and some harder edged sections in some songs. The songs are mostly of a more subdued nature though. This means that the album is varied and the contrasts between the hard and the mellow work wonders IMO. In addition to bass, drums, guitar and keyboards there are also sections with orchestration on the album. A very ambitious project.

The musicianship is excellent. I love the interplay between the drums and the bass and lead vocalist/ guitarist/ keyboardist Ben Harris-Hayes performs well too. His voice is really strong and when he goes from singing mellow to singing powerful sections I almost get goosebumps that´s how powerful he is. There are some excellent compositional ideas which involves harmonies created by guitar and keyboards that Ben Harris-Hayes, as the main composer, should also receive recognition for.

The production, which the group is credited for, is enjoyable allthough it could do with a bit of polish from a professional producer IMO. Don´t get me wrong though this is a very well sounding recording.

"Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio" is an excellent album by Enochian Theory and besides showing promise of even more future greatness, the album really stands as a monument to the fact that a new excellent progressive rock/ metal act has entered the scene. A 4 star rating is well deserved. I can highly recommend "Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio" to fans of melancholic progressive rock/ metal. I´m convinced that this is only the beginning of a great career for Enochian Theory.