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.

Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio is a promising second album from the British threesome Enochian Theory. They bring a tasty mix of Katatonia, Anathema, Riverside and Porcupine Tree with various features from other styles. The resemblance to these bands makes comparisons unavoidable. They are not always in Enochian Theory's favour, but this album sure has plenty on offer for the fans of modern heavy prog.

The tracks of this concept album segue fluently into one another and make for a coherent album. It's an ambitious thing to do so early in their career, but Enochian Theory pull it off quite successfully, remaining coherent throughout while providing some diversity and unexpected twists.

The general ambience is similar to Katatonia and Anathema, but the music is very eclectic on occasion. Unfortunately it sometimes succumbs to a conflicting mix of styles that seem to work against each other instead of cooperating. The opening of A Great Odds for example tries to mix dirty grinding post-rock guitars with neo-prog keyboards. A rather inadequate combination. Also the hardcore shouts and math-metal of the opening of Apathia fits in rather awkwardly. It's an original feature of this band but they will need to distil it into something that is not only unique but also effective. Another option would be to avoid the styles that they are not entirely comfortable with.

There are stellar moments packed with emotion throughout the album. Ben Harris-Hayes is an excellent vocalist who handles both tranquil melodious moments and powerful flashes of emotion. The songwriting is generally excellent but not all tracks manage to provide the memorable hooks that can be found on songs such as Movement and Tedium / Dimentionless Monologue. Tracks like Waves of Ascension and The Fire Around The Lotus for example only manage to maintain the approach of the preceding music without injecting it with anything memorable or remarkable, they sure lack some distinctiveness. Also many of the instrumental interludes fail to provide the necessary change of tone. I'd like to see this band adding some more musical and melodic development.

The weaker points on this album can turn it into a weary listen, but there are emotional highlights throughout. 3.5 stars will have to do for now, but I'll be happy to hear further growth from this band.

4.5 stars. ENOCHIAN THEORY are a trio out of the UK who play an atmospheric and dark brand of Metal that could easily be considered Post-Metal. I have to thank UMUR who recommended this band to me almost a year ago, I did purchase this album shortly there- after but am just now finally getting around to putting up a review. Besides these three talented guys we also have what's called "The Lost Orchestra" who add atmosphere, pianos, synths and orchestration.They are very important to the sound here. Also David Castillo mixed and mastered this album. Some will know him for his work with OPETH and KATATONIA. By the way those two bands are great reference points and I did think of TOOL as well. Some of these songs blend together and as I listened to this one more time before the review it happened to be pouring rain outside and it couldn't be more perfect for music such as this. Love the picture on the back of the liner notes of this gigantic grasshopper the size of a transport truck at the top of this massive tree.

"Every Ending Has A beginning..." is a short piece of atmospheric music where we get these haunting waves of sound. Next up is the three song suite called "The Dimensionless Monologue". It begins with "Tedium" with the laid back guitar and atmosphere as reserved vocals join in. Drums and bass too. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes. Hell ya ! It blends into "The Dimensioless Monologue" where we get this emotional yell to start. Man this is so moving. Check out the fat bass lines too. It turns heavier after 1 1/2 minutes.Then back to those amazing vocals. Strings end it as it blends into "T.D.M.". Love the atmosphere to start this one and throughout really. "At Great Odds With..." kicks in fairly quickly then settles a minute in with strings then picked guitar. Reserved vocals before 2 minutes then it kicks back in around 4 minutes. Great sound before 5 minutes.

"Apathia" opens with guitar before the growly vocals come in spitting out the lyrics. They stop after he screams and this powerful instrumental soundscape takes over. It sounds so good after 2 1/2 minutes.The tempo picks up 3 minutes in. "Triumvirate" opens with experimental sounds before the powerful atmosphere takes over. "Movement" continues with amosphere before the reserved vocals with strings take over. Guitar and drums join in. A fuller sound 2 minutes in to the end. Nice. "After Movement" features waves after wave of sound. "Waves Of Ascension" is powerful to start then it settles some when the vocals arrive before 1 1/2 minutes. Contrasts continue. "The Fire Around The Lotus" opens with strings as processed reserved vocals come in reminding me of Akerfeldt. It kicks in with growls before 2 minutes. Contrasts continue. Great tune ! "The Living Continuum" is mostly atmosphere and strange sounds. "A Monument To The Death Of An Idea" builds as vocals join in. It turns heavier as growls kick in. Contrasts continue.

I am so looking forward to spending more time with this album. It wouldn't surprise me if this grows to 5 stars down the road. It's loaded with atmosphere just the way I like it.