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COMMUNIC

Progressive Metal • Norway


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Communic biography
COMMUNIC is a progressive-metal band formed in Kristiansand, Norway, in 2003.

COMMUNIC was formed in March of 2003 by ex-SCARIOT members Oddleif Stensland (guitars/vocals) and Tor Atle Andersen (drums). They were quickly joined by bassist Erik Mortensen, a former band member of Stensland's in INGERMANLAND and since 2004 COMMUNIC has been the primary concern of all members in the band.

By June 2004, the band signed a long term record deal with respected German company Nuclear Bast and embarked on the recording of their debut album, "Conspiracy of Mind", in Jacob Hansen Studios in Denmark. The resultant work was released to the world in February 2005 to mass critical acclaim and even received "album of the month" awards in a couple of major metal publications. A following European tour in support of the album strengthened their position as an exciting new Melodic Progressive Metal band and included a memorable performance at Germany's Rock Hard Festival.

In Early 2006 the band once again went to Denmark to work the Jacob Hansen and his studio to produce their second album, "Waves of Visual Decay", which has earned them a great deal of respect.

Now in 2008 the band has returned with their third album, "Payment of Existence."

COMMUNIC will please fans of Progressive Metal with their melodic, memorable but high energy songs, reminiscent of bands like PAGAN'S MIND, PATHOSRAY and SUSPYRE.

(Thanks to Andrew "Sleeper" Carter for the artist's bio and information).

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COMMUNIC discography


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COMMUNIC top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.21 | 19 ratings
Conspiracy in Mind
2005
3.37 | 24 ratings
Waves of Visual Decay
2006
3.19 | 19 ratings
Payment of Existence
2008
3.90 | 10 ratings
The Bottom Deep
2011
4.11 | 9 ratings
Where Echoes Gather
2017
3.71 | 7 ratings
Hiding from the World
2020

COMMUNIC Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

COMMUNIC Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

COMMUNIC Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

COMMUNIC Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

COMMUNIC Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Payment of Existence by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.19 | 19 ratings

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Payment of Existence
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Payment of Existence from 2008 is their third release so far and is keeping the same attitude and manner of composing with previous album. Still fairly solid album, maybe in places little more unintresting as Waves but still tight in musicinship. Again long pieces, with forte ones On Ancient Ground or Through the Labyrinth of Years, they remind me in places of Nevermore, specially on guitar department. Not a fantastic album but I still like it and I found it good towards great, so 3.5 stars for Payment of Existence. Waves remain their best album so far. A good band that worth to be discovered by prog/power metal listners, there is some fantastic instrumental sections.
 Waves of Visual Decay by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.37 | 24 ratings

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Waves of Visual Decay
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars really

Communic is a great norwegian progressive/power metal band with quite a solid career so far. Waves of visual decay is their second release from 2006 issued by Nuclear Blast. Well, this is pretty solid album, with tight and inventive musicianship, Communic has only 3 memebers but thy done a fantastic job here. 7 pieces , each one quite long with twists and breaks, tempo changes and all ingredients to be a great power/progressive metal album. The instrumental parts are quite long and plenty of them, showing how strong musicns they are. Under a Luminous Sky, the opening track or the title track are simply great, Communic offering something of a real intrest in such genre. The album overall maybe is to raw for some prog metal fans, but has lots of melodic guitar lines. This is a nice album with great art work and even the lyrics are pretty much more then ok.3.5 stars to this one, my fav Communic album and maybe their best so far.

 Waves of Visual Decay by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.37 | 24 ratings

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Waves of Visual Decay
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by kluseba

4 stars Communic surely made a big step forward with their second record. Their compositions are more complex, more thought out and more majestic. The band also sounds a lot less than Nevermore as they did on their debut record even if these influences are still too much present to call this album unique. The production and the artwork are though once again outstanding.

"Under A Luminous Sky" is a great and mysterious introduction to a progressive album but the band's technical thrash riffs kick already in and give the song a fairly interesting drive. The vocals remind of Nevermore but in the higher parts also of King Diamond or Judas Priest. This shows just the great vocal range of the singer and proves me that he could do much better than he actually does by copying the style of other well known singers. The guitar work sounds a little bit like Tool in this track and is quite interesting.

The problem I still have with the band beside the fact that they didn't find their own style and copy too many other artists is that their songs lack of warmth, accessibility and catchiness. They are technically brilliant but heavy to digest and often way too long in my humble opinion. As on the last album, the band convinces when they take a deep breath and put calmer passages in their songs. These are the moments when they sound emotional, authentic and human. I really like the calm and melodic first minutes of the diversified "Frozen Asleep In The Park" or the enjoyable half-ballad "Watching It All Disappear" but the band always decides way too often to return to a mid tempo pace with thrash riffs and Warrel Dane reminiscences.

The calm moments are though way more present on this record as one the first one and the band seems to recognize its talent and skills and they mostly employ them in an adequate way. From that point of view the title track "Waves Of Visual Decay" is the most complete and perfect track the band has ever done and the highlight of this record but one must also mention the quite diversified closer "At Dewy Pride" that mixes in a great way the harder and softer side of a band and would be an ideal choice to represent the sound of the Norwegian group. The last songs sound very promising to me for the band's future since I have not yet listened to their last records but they definitely seem to keep on progressing.

In the end, this record is more human, more emotional and also more diversified than the first album. It's not a masterpiece but the band is on a quite good way to get into the circle of the big progressive metal bands. I begin to open myself to them and appreciate them more than before. I would judge this record as a big step forward for them and consider it as a very good progressive metal record.

Originally published on www.metal-archives.com on August 24th of the year 2011.

 Conspiracy in Mind  by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2005
3.21 | 19 ratings

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Conspiracy in Mind
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by kluseba

3 stars This Norwegian progressive metal band with the great cover artwork can be described as a calmer version of "Nevermore". The band's influence can especially be heard in the rather mellow and faceless opener and title track "Conspiracy In Mind" and the too repetitive "Communication Sublime". Many tracks in here have a couple of good ideas but it feels as if the band wasn't courageous enough to do anything they wanted or would have been able to do. The songs repeat the same patterns in a sometimes hypnotizing but sometimes also monotonous way and are often way too long. "They Feed On Our Fear" would be an amazing song if it would be about five minutes long but ten minutes are definitely too much to keep the tension, interest and quality high in here. To be honest, some tracks get quite boring after a while like "Ocean Bed". The same riffs and vocal lines are over and over repeated and come back and back again.

The band though always convince when they use softer melodies and write emotional and dreamy power ballads such as my favourite song in here which is "The Distance" or the slightly heavier and more diversified and almost equally amazing "History Reversed" that remind me a little bit of the calmer songs of the metal icons such as "Metallica" or "Iron Maiden". The difference is that those songs are interesting and relaxing but don't have the same intense moments and the same soul as the softer tracks of the other two bands. But as this is the band's first strike and the comparison with those metal legends not quite fair, I wouldn't criticize them for that. The epic album closer "Silence Surrounds" unites the very present "Nevermore" influences with the ballad parts and would be my third highlight.

In the end, the band simply copies too many influences from "Nevermore" and writes quite repetitive and overlong tracks that don't get to the point. There are three very good tracks but on the other side four rather boring and uninspired songs that pull the balance of the album down. In the end, I can talk about a relaxing and easy to digest progressive metal record that misses some unique elements and a proper style of the band. The band doesn't vary much and sounds on a more positive term more coherent than many other progressive metal bands but I feel they took the safe way and could do much better. The album is far from being perfect but enjoyable from time to time and a must have for any fan of "Nevermore" and their music.

 Payment of Existence by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.19 | 19 ratings

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Payment of Existence
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by arcane-beautiful

3 stars This album has done something which is very rare...and bands really shouldn't do this.

Now I've know these guys for a while now, and I don't have their first 2 album,s but I've heard songs from each, and I really like them.When I saw this album in a CD shop, I had to get it, just to kind of at leat own something from these guys.

I sat down ready to listen away, and then regretted it. For half an hour I was thinking, "Oh my God, this is just boring. And not that good." By the 4th song, I kind of wanted to turn it off, but only one album has actually made me turn a CD off before I finished it before (Metallica's Death Magnetic, that final instrumental was just boring as hell). Then track 5 came on and I went "This is actually a really good song"...and then it got better as each track went on.

That's really not a nice thing to do to someone. Torture them slightly for half and hour, and then pamper them the next. Sadly thats what happened. The first 4 songs are just not that great, in fact, very tedious at times, and quite annoying. Then the last 4 are so good that it kind of makes you regret thinking such bad thoughts about the band beforehand.

Now these guys are progressive metal...kind of...sort off. Well its hard to even really label these guys. Their unqiue...yet you can hear their influences clearly, yet also make them their own sound. It's great what they do, but hard when you want to describe them. I always thought they sounded like Nevermore at times, but that's mainly because of the vocals. To be honest, their just a metal band, with no real sub genre, although they do have lengthy tracks, and I mean all of their songs are over 5 minutes and can even reach the 10 minute mark. The guys can oddly enough pull it off. How they do it, I don't know, it just seems to work.

The album also seems to be a concept album, dealing with themes of existentionalism (for the first 4 songs, it really suits the mood), creation, existence, religion, time and purpose of life.

Now for the first half an hour, you will start to look like the girl on the cover...but don't worry...soon you'll like this ...> :D

It's also good to see a band from Norway, where the members don't have silly black metal nicknames (if i had a black metal nickname it would be Ygg, cause its Norwegian for the wicked one...ooooohhhh)

Now if you do buy this album, warning...it does get good. I mean really good.

1. On Ancient Ground - I have to admit, this main riff is kick ass. The song builds up pretty well at times, but the chorus is annoying. The song is cheesy at times, and the words "ancicent" "ground" and "SACRIFICE!" are said about a billion times, and they don't get better with repitition. Although...that is one good riff. 8/10

2. The Abandoned One - I like the Metallica esque chugging in the main riff. Nice enough chorus, but it's quite lifeless really, and it only makes the song more boring. 7/10

3. Becoming Of Man - The dramaticism is pretty cool. The lyrics and concept are pretty interesting. The song isn't that bad, and can be pretty cool at times, but it's still a bit bland now and then. 7/10

4. Payment Of Existence - Some of the changes are very random and don't make sense. Some kick ass riffs, and some ok moments, I guess. Pretty forgetfull.

5. Through The Labryinth Of Years - THE CHANGEAROUND!!! The song is really good. The chorus is really kick ass, especially the bridge after it. I love the melodic feel to it too. 10/10

6. Raven's Cry - I really didn't expect antything from this song, cause the title seemed a bit clichéd. But it just really turns into something pretty amazing. The intro is really cool, and the chorus kicks alot of ass. I love how the song changes from quite a slow song into a very kick ass metal song. The instrumental section also is really impressive, cause it really shows what these guys are capable of. Great arrangement, and some really kick ass vocals, especially in the chorus. 10/10

7. Unpredicabilities Of Life - Best song on the album in my opinion. The main riff is really kick ass. The chorus is amazing and the build up throughout the song really is killer. The vocals are also amazing, especially in the chorus. 10/10

8. Stone Carved Eyes - Wow! That intro is one hell of a way to start a song. Great chorus and a great arrangement keeping you on your feet. It's also not that repetitive, so it intrigues you more.

CONCLUSION: If this was an e.p...and the last 4 songs where on it, I would give it 4 or even a 5. But because the first half is very week, 3 will have to do (the first half would get a 2 at the most). I was gonna sell this album...but now I might keep it...just for those last 4 songs.

 Waves of Visual Decay by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.37 | 24 ratings

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Waves of Visual Decay
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Waves of Visual Decay" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Norwegian metal act Communic. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in May 2006. The "regular" version of the album contains seven tracks. The limited edition comes with two bonus tracks. Both tracks are also featured in this version on the bandīs 2004 "Conspiracy in Mind" demo and also appeared in re-recorded version on the 2005 "Conspiracy in Mind" full-length studio album. "Waves of Visual Decay" was produced by prolific Danish producer/musician Jacob Hansen.

The music on the album is semi-progressive thrashy power metal and just as the case was on the debut album a comparison to Nevermore is not that far off the mark. lead vocalist/guitarist Oddleif Stensland has a voice and a singing style that is so similar to the voice and singing style of Warrel Dane ( Nevermore, Sancturary) that itīs impossible not to notice it and mention it. There are moments on this album that sounds unmistakably like Nevermore (albeit without the outstanding guitar playing by Jeff Loomis) and Iīm a bit biased if I think thatīs a strength or a weakness. Communic generally has a more epic progressive style that sets them apart from Nevermore, but there are generally more similarities than differences.

The seven tracks on the 57:54 minutes long album are all between 6 and 9 minutes long and all feature hook laden choruses, heavy thrashy/power metal riffing, occasional keyboard backing, and those paatos filled powerful clean vocals by Oddleif Stensland. While I at times could have wished for a more raw and stripped down approach, itīs to mye ears still a winning formula. All tracks on "Waves of Visual Decay" are quality compositions, the playing is impeccable, and with a powerful sound production to boot, this album screams quality all the way through.

One of my complaints about the debut album was that the songwriting was a bit formulaic and vers/chorus based, and thatīs unfortunately also true on "Waves of Visual Decay". Vers/chorus based songwriting isnīt always an issue, but as both the vers and the chorus sections are as long as they are on this album, it tends to get a bit repetitive when the band repeat themselves for the third time, but thatīs my only complaint about the album and of course this is also an aquired taste. If Communic could "cut a bit of the fat" they would probably be a bit more appealing though. Still a 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted.

 Waves of Visual Decay by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2006
3.37 | 24 ratings

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Waves of Visual Decay
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by Ovidiu

4 stars Wooooooa!Even after almost 5 years since this album was released,each time when I made an audition of it,I've got the same reaction!This album kicks ass!It's simply OUTSTANDING! COMMUNIC are,definitelly,the European answer to NEVERMORE-no doubt about it!No matter how hard we try to find other elements in the Norwegian's music,it's more than obvious that they are 200 % heavyly influenced by NEVERMORE!The whole structure of the songs,the drumming double pedal madness and especially the vocalist's organ-COMMUNIC ARE NEVERMORE'S CLONE!And ,what's more important-they are not at all less good thet their models!I even think that on some aspects-the dramatism of the interpretation and the soft presence of the keyboards-are making COMMUNIC's music more deep and profound!Of course,WARREL DANE has an unique voice,but Oddleif's one is suprbe too!This man can transmit unbelieveble emotions and great feeling thru his superbe voice-and this is a major ace in COMMUNIC'S advantage!Not even a weak song-all the album is monolyth-strong as steel-but there are too many mid-tempo songs in my humble oppinion!And there is another attractive element in COOMUNIC's music-the fact that there are long instrumental passages- just look at the timming of each track!Trully impressive the maturity of the guys and their musical vision!I hope in the future they will find a more personal and particular identity in the music-because they are trully to influenced my NEVERMORE under too many aspects!BUT I LIKE THAT!!!!!The production is sensational-top indeed,with a powerful and mazing strength and heaviness!Great artwork too!I think after the minblowing debut album-this second one-is even stronger!Strong 4 stars for a magnificent thrash power progressive album!
 Payment of Existence by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.19 | 19 ratings

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Payment of Existence
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by FarBeyondProg

3 stars To me, Communic are a little like a poor man's Iced Earth, they have that epic power/progressive sound with that slight element of thrash metal in their music, but unlike Iced Earth i just think this band is missing something, they can really be destined for massive things, they have the ability they just dont know how to use that ability well, now dont get me wrong i really really enjoyed this album and there is some fantastic playing and some great songs, it just didnt do as much as i hoped it would, tracks like the first one ON ANTIENT GROUND just sounded too much like their influences its almost like playing a game of spot the influence, there really is nothing original, just the same played to death formula of lets stretch this song way beyond the length thats needed and fill it with about five different verces, though having said that songs like THROUGH THE LABYRINTH OF YEARS was a highly enjoyable song with some very catchy parts, other highlights are BECOMING OF MAN and RAVEN'S CRY. I dont really need to mention anything about production as with all power/prog albums the sound is great and everything can be heard very clearly i just wish the songs were just a smidge better is all;

On Ancient Ground - 8/10 The Abandoned One - 8/10 Becoming of Man - 9/10 Payment of Existence - 9/10 Through the Labyrinth of Years - 9/10 Ravens Cry - 9/10 Unpredictables of Life - 8/10 Stone Carved Eyes - 8/10

My Conclusion? A little dissipointed but hey, thats just my opinion, i would still recomend it as its a decent release.

 Conspiracy in Mind  by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2005
3.21 | 19 ratings

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Conspiracy in Mind
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Conspiracy in Mind" is the debut full-length studio album by Norwegian power metal act Communic. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in 2005. Guitarist/vocalist Oddleif Stensland and drummer Tor Atle Gabrielsen-Andersen left their former band Scariot after the "Strange to Numbers (2003)" album to form Communic and they drafted bassist Erik Mortensen to complete the lineup. Mortensen had previously played with Stensland in Ingermanland. Mortensen is also a member of Dimenzion: Psychosphere.

The music style on the album is power metal with some thrash metal and some progressive metal leanings. The music is generally very heavy yet melodic. Communic are often compared to Nevermore and while there are many differences between the two bands, there certainly is some merit to that comparison. The fact that Oddleif Stenslandīs voice at times sound very similar to the voice of Warrel Dane is one of the most obvious similarities. The 7 tracks on the album are generally very long, ranging from 6 to almost 11 minutes. Some of the tracks have what I would call slightly progressive leanings but the overall style is still heavy power metal.

The musicianship is excellent throughout and the tracks are generally well written and contain enough sections and twists to be entertaining for most of the duration of the album. The tracks are a bit too formulaic in the end though and I could do without hearing the vers/chorus part three times in each track, which also means that most of the tracks overstay their welcome by a couple of minutes. It isnīt a major issue but enough to keep the album from being really excellent. I know playing the vers/chorus parts three times is the regular way to do it, but here it just becomes slightly too predictable.

"Conspiracy in Mind" features a sound production courtesy of Danish producer Jacob Hansen. Itīs powerful and clear, and overall decent sounding, but itīs not one of Hansenīs better productions. Upon conclusion "Conspiracy in Mind" is a fairly good quality debut album by Communic. A little rough around the edges but still a pretty powerful power metal release and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is deserved.

 Payment of Existence by COMMUNIC album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.19 | 19 ratings

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Payment of Existence
Communic Progressive Metal

Review by Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

3 stars Depravation, destruction and decay; it's all good stuff

"Payment of existence" is Norwegian metallers Communic's third album, and their latest release at time of writing. While de facto leader Oddleif Stensland is currently writing new material, it seems likely that we will need to wait until after 2009 for any further releases. The line up is once again unchanged, but as the playing of the trio has been admirably tight since their first album this release is simply a natural development of their sound rather than marked improvement of it.

The heavy introductory riff to "On Ancient Ground" tells us that this is very much business as usual; if anything things seem even heavier this time around. The lyrics are suitably tinged with pagan and satanic references and refrains of "Sacrifice", the sleeve illustration suggesting that depravation, destruction and decay provide the loose concept for the album.

"Becoming of Man" is the first to lighten things slightly, the chiming guitar supporting a fine vocal arrangement. The track works its way though slight variations in tempo and mood, but is generally slower that the other songs, further emphasising its power. "Raven's Cry" and "Through the Labyrinth of Years" appear to include keyboards to swell the sound, but once again, if this is the case they remain unaccredited.

Overall, the prog aspects of Communic are muted to say the least. While they deliver extended songs, most are between 6 and 10 minutes long, this has more to do with the band's ability to fully develop their material rather than through the introduction of genuine prog tenets. They do however make a mighty sound, and their vocal capabilities are far superior to many other bands who follow a similar path. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I do wish they would diversify their sound a bit more, and also that they would include more genuine solos in their instrumental passages. These however are personal aspirations, and this remains a well made and most enjoyable album.

Thanks to The T for the artist addition.

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