THE NEW EVE

Spheric Universe Experience's "The New Eve" is a journey into heavy prog metal territory with some synth and melancholy diversions. I have been cranking this album for a while and it really has grown on me, especially the melodies and powerful driving riffs.

It begins with the scorching muscular guitars of 'Shut Up', with Vince Benaïm's crushing distorted riff that gallops along on a fast time sig. Franck Garcia's vocals are raspy but easy to understand in the same style as Testament. The riffs are killer and the lead break is dynamic, along with keyboards played by Fred Colombo to soften the dense atmosphere.

'The New Eve' is a 6 minute track with a fast cadence and locks into a frenetic riff, only to break away in the slower chorus with some retro synth sounds. The synths are more prominent at times sounding like the music of Gary Numan. There is later a very choppy riff and then an excellent metronomic Dream Theater style riff. Christophe Briand's drums pound relentlessly and after another vibrant lead solo the chorus finalises this wonderful song.

After such an incredible start 'Escape' follows, driven by a very fast tempo with a brain melting complex riff that will test the dexterity of any respectful guitarist. The vocals are terrific, just serrated enough to have a metal edge without resorting to growls, and I love the melody on the chorus that is a real grower. The saw toothed synth buzzes along with spasmodic guitar bursts, and a lead break augments the heaviness. This song is an absolute belter; pummeling with breakneck speed sledge hammer riffing from beginning to end. 'Never Heal' follows, clocking 6.15, with synth and guitar thrashing out an endearing riff and then settling on a rhythm with doublekick drums. The vocals are more subdued and demonstrate the range of Garcia. The bassline of John Drai maintains the meter as a guitar solo unleashes with speedy hammer ons and then a scintillating keyboard solo takes over.

So far every song is excellent prog metal, so I was wondering with a title like 'Angel' would we be able to relax with a power ballad to break away from the intensity. The 6.44 minute song opens with spacey textures on a very slow beat; a dreamy soundscape. The vocals are very gentle with acoustic vibrations, so we have our respite which is a welcome relief. The melody is lovely, as Garcia sings building to a stirring harmonised chorus; "when the rainbow in the grey sky, light upon me or give me a sign, angel, you are my angel, fly on my shoulders when I am sad and blue, angel, you feel my heart and joy, thankyou for being here in my life." The lead break with angelic synth is mesmirising and this is a gentle song, underpinned by tranquil synths. It ends with an isolated piano and a baby cry echoing, then some unsettling spacey atmospheres.

'The Day I Died' has a surprising funky vibe and Colombo's warbling synth lines with much cleaner vocals. It certainly is a diverse approach and I like Beniam's choppy axe work. It a more mainstream form of metal sounding like a different band. 'In This Place' returns to the heavier guitar distortion and manic riffing, and the pace gets into a breakneck tempo. This is speed metal territory and the heaviness is jarring after the previous two tracks. The riff is killer and at times moves into the pentatonic style of Tool. Briand's drums crash unremittingly and there is a strong presence of keyboards layered over the density. This track is a metalhead's paradise.

'Self Abuse' is another very fast full on riffer, the band seem to be gaining pace the further into the album we get, and this has growls earlier thrown in to give it an even heavier mood. The raspy vox come in multilayered, and it seems to have an Arabian style melody. The fast strumming is traditional thrash, and the instrumental break is a trade off of razor sharp lead guitar and keyboard attacks. The lead work at the end is barking mad improvisation.

The last track is 'My Heart on The Cross', opening with a synth motif and slowed tempo. A breath of fresh air after the chaos previous, again the mood is completely different. The singing is clean and softer, as we hear about the girl who is in the protagonist's dreams but also in his nightmares at times. The compelling lyrics talk of the cross as a symbol, healing of afflictions, and the loss of a girl who has torn out his heart, this is why "the gravedigger is waiting, waiting for me". The melancholy is strong and it builds to the revelation that "behind the door there is my hell" and "this is my judgement, trying to escape distress, trying to escape this mess."

"The New Eve" is a terrific heavy prog album with enough metal to appease those who like thrash and yet there is a fair degree of prog elegance with ballads and some sweeping keyboard finesse. This variation makes the journey all the more captivating and I was very impressed with this album from Spheric Universe Experience.