DECODING THE EMPTINESS

These things happen from time to time: when a band we like releases two albums at once. Well, this year Echolyn did it? and in my opinion, it wasn't a good decision. But I'm not here to judge them, because I want to talk about Daal, the Italian band, another of my favorites.

Daal has been releasing excellent albums for years. Since 2018's "Decalogue of Darkness"?perhaps their best work?they've demonstrated remarkable consistency. That doesn't mean their earlier material is weak; on the contrary, their discography has virtually no low points. One of them is 2012's Dodecahedron, another magnificent album.

Immersing yourself in Daal's sound is like immersing yourself in a dark and gloomy world of impressive sonic quality. Their musical skill takes you through shadowy realms, occasionally opening up to brighter or denser spaces. The band uses their instrumental prowess to create a kind of sonic exploration: an interplay of light and darkness. Their music is difficult to define.

Led by keyboardist Alfio Costa, who creates the tones and atmospheres, Daal's sound is primarily instrumental. He is accompanied by Davide Guidoni on drums, Ettore Salati on guitar, and Bobo Aiolfi on bass. While vocals are rare, this time they feature contributions from Joe Sal and Alphabeard, who provide texture on two tracks instead of taking center stage.

Decoding the Emptiness is a complex and diverse album, particularly claustrophobic, but that's part of the experience Daal seeks to offer. It sometimes offers no respite with its dark, disjointed cadences, but musically it is extraordinary: a journey of the mind and spirit to those corners we often avoid, but somehow find strangely comforting. The performance is masterful and, as I said, constantly surprises you. It transports you through changing landscapes, creating a deep and unique connection, like discovering a hidden secret in each track.

Decoding the Emptiness undoubtedly sits on the darker side of progressive rock, but in a way that is highly rewarding for those who appreciate the genre's more cinematic and experimental nuances.

This album doesn't strive for catchy melodies or traditional structures. Instead, it builds dense soundscapes with vintage synthesizers, layers of mellotron, percussive textures, and melancholic atmospheres. It leans toward avant-prog and symphonic dark prog, referencing bands like Goblin, Univers Zero, and the more haunting side of King Crimson. Despite being primarily instrumental, it tells a compelling story, almost like the soundtrack to a psychological thriller or an art film.

Decoding the Emptiness might be Daal's best album to date: its layers of density and darkness are so well realized that the album stands as a true milestone in the genre.

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