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ART TO THE BLIND

Book Of Hours

Heavy Prog


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Book Of Hours Art To The Blind album cover
3.59 | 38 ratings | 5 reviews | 11% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1999

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Ångloksångest (4:27)
2. Fifth Dimension (7:57)
3. Infinite (5:27)
4. Endearment (6:27)
5. Infertile Ground (7:46)
6. Tender Contempt (5:41)
7. Fading From Grey (4:47)
8. Den Trettonde Månaden (8:45)

Total Time: 51:17

Line-up / Musicians

- Mattias Reinholdsson / bass & vocals
- Per Broddesson / guitar & keyboards
- Henrik Johansson / drums & keyboards
- Mikael Zell / keyboards & guitar

Guest musician:
- Stefan Zell / vocals

Releases information

RECORD HEAVEN #RHCD 16

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
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BOOK OF HOURS Art To The Blind ratings distribution


3.59
(38 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(11%)
11%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(50%)
50%
Good, but non-essential (24%)
24%
Collectors/fans only (16%)
16%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

BOOK OF HOURS Art To The Blind reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Greger
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars The Swedish progressive symphonic metal / hard rock band BOOK OF HOURS was formed in 1996. With two demo tapes behind them, Record Heaven contacted them in 1999 to release BOOK OF HOURS debut CD. ANEKDOTEN influences the band, and you can hear a lot of it in their music. There's also reminiscences to DREAM THEATER and LANDBERK. The distorted bass and the heavy guitars together with the strong melodies forms a high-class progressive rock. My favourite tracks are "Fifth dimension", "Infertile Ground", "Tender contempt" and the final track "Den trettonde månaden", which got lyrics in Swedish. The band did the nice cover by themselves. This is one of the best releases so far in 1999. Strongly recommended!
Review by Eetu Pellonpaa
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars I must admit that I didin't find this band's music very much like ANEKDOTEN's (their two first records probably due the release of this record), as BOOK OF HOURS is not as adventorous in their solutions, nor is there such overwhelmingly dark mellow atmoshphere in the music. I feel that the music is more influenced by DREAM THEATER, though their aesthetics are not as artificial as that band creates in my opinion (no mean to offend anyone with this). The songs are both in English and Swedish, and the most lenghty of them are quite decent, the last one being truly the best. If you like artistic heavy rock, this is certainly a good choice, though not my personal favorite. It would be interesting to hear the demos!
Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I was surprised to read this band didn't name themselves after the ANEKDOTEN song.They had just completed their first demo and still didn't have a name when one of the guys wrote BOOK OF HOURS on the cover of the demo, and the rest is history. I was astonished to see that Stefan Zell sings on this record, and his brother plays keyboards and guitar.The Zell brothers have been part of WOLVERINE for some time now. Stefan actually was with BOOK OF HOURS from the beginning but quit to form WOLVERINE back in 1995, he's listed as a guest vocalist here. Stefan sings so much better now than he did here or even on earlier WOLVERINE records.This album "Art To The Blind" was released in 1999 after which Mikael Zell and the lead guitarist here Per Broddesson left to join Stefan in WOLVERINE. They released their first album in 2001 called "The Window Purpose".

The first song on "Art To The Blind" is a nice heavy instrumental called "Angloksangest". Nice chunky bass lines and pounding drums.The guitar 2 1/2 minutes in is good as the heavy sound continues. "Fifth Dimension" has this releaxed intro as vocals arrive a minute in. It kicks in at 3 minutes. Mellotron follows then guitar after 4 minutes. It settles again but then kicks back in at 6 minutes. mellotron follows. Excellent track. My favourite song is "Infinite", this could be an ANEKDOTEN song. It hits the ground running with heavy drums and bass. Just an awesome sound here. It settles with angular guitar and fat bass as vocals arrive. A tasteful guitar solo 4 minutes in. "Endearment" begins with mournful vocals, which are replaced by flute, which in turn are replaced by vocals that sound processed this time, mellotron rolls in and the song builds into a great sound. It sounds like ANEKDOTEN before 3 minutes and after 4 minutes. Some interesting guitar moves at the end of this one with mellotron.

Some maniac drumming on "Infertile Ground". I like the instrumental section after 3 minutes that lasts almost 2 1/2 minutes. Grinding guitar to end it. "Tender Contempt" has a heavy SABBATH sounding intro with menacing vocals. It does lighten and calm down though then kicks back in but it's not doom-like. The contrasts continue. "Fading From Grey" opens with keys as laid back vocals join in then flute. It kicks in at 2 1/2 minutes (great sound) then settles again. "Den Trettonde Manaden" has Swedish vocals and is dark and powerful. It reminds me of ANATHEMA. A top three track for sure.

This is beautiful Swedish music that I highly recommend. WOLVERINE fans especially might be interested in checking out the Zell brothers and Per earlier in their careers.

Review by Prog-jester
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars It’s a very good album in its own right, nevertheless it’s hard to avoid ANEKDOTEN comparison. Also classic KC and VDGG come to mind, though sometimes band sounds much heavier (opening riff in “Infertile Ground” reminds of one in “The Ones who helped to set the Sun” from DREAM THEATER’s debut). Nice yet typically Swedish vocals (as if floating above the quirky signatures and structures) with a slight accent (btw, the singer is also a bass-player ;) ), heavy guitars and mostly background keyboards (there are some notable exceptions though) and energetic rhythm-section. There are some forgettable tracks and the whole mood is kinda indecision-like, but it’s a good and recommended album after all. If you like Scandinavian Prog, it’ll meet your expectations for sure
Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars The story of this Swedish act dates back in mid-90's, when bassist Mattias Reinholdsson and multi-instrumentalist Henrik Johansson decided to form their own group.They brought some old bandmates to complete the original line-up: singer Stefan Zell, guitarist/keyboardist Per Broddesson and keyboardist Ulf Nygerds.After the demo "Previously unreleased", recorded in August 97', Nygerds quit and in early 98' Broddesson parted ways for a short time with the group, replaced by Stefan's brother Mikael.In late 98', with Broddesson back in the line-up, Book of Hours released a second demo, "We find your lack of faith disturbing'', the last recording of Stefan Zell with the group.Eventually the official debut ''Art to the blind'' saw the light in May 99' after a contact with Record Heaven.Stefan Zell helped the group, carrying out the vocals as a guest member.

Book of Hours played a Heavy/Psych Progressive Rock with a contemporary sound and a style close to compatriots ANEKDOTEN and LANDBERK, lacking though the instrumental depth of these legends, yet performing some powerful and energetic music all the way.70's Progers TRETTIOARIGA KRIGET might be also a good comparison.''Art to the blind'' is based on the guitar work of Broddesson and Mikael Zell in an extreme degree, offering textures full of passionate grooves, sudden gears, complex moves and heavy riffing, which recall KING CRIMSON.Still there are some nice rockin' solos to offer another different dimension by the duo.Keyboards are used sporadically and the need of a richer sound is evident in the process.When used, they create a very atmospheric mood in the style of the aforementioned Swedish masters and the sound obtains a vintage flavor as a result.The vocals are great: Passionate and expressive with a high amount of energy.Combined with the dynamic rhythm section and the crunchy, intricate guitar exercises, they produce high voltage music for lovers of the maximum of volumes.

Book of Hours' debut is an interesting album for anyone into the heavier side of Progressive Rock music.Not very Scandinavian-sounding as many of their compatriots, but definitely highly energetic and passionate music with a fair dose of complexity in the guitars' section.Recommended.

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