ACIDITY

First of all, I was wondering why this band was featured in this site as I understand that the band's music has its roots on metal music. But when I received the sample tape from the band, I could see some flavors of prog in their music even though it's not that much. I had to adjust my ears significantly when I first listened to their music since it's very loud and noisy with lots of heavy guitar riffs and screaming voice. My prog mate told me that he could not bear listening to the music as it's so loud. That's probably the characteristics of any metal album, the louder you can make the better. Probably. If you do not favor metal, don't ever purchase this album!

As Kekal is Indonesian band, I'm facing a critical challenge in reviewing this album: removing all bias-ness because I'm an Indonesian by nationality. What is nationality anyway? Especially in this borderless world where all of us are actually citizens of planet Earth. For sure, I'm a citizen of the world's progressive rock community! Luckily, I know nothing about the band and has neither personal relationship with any band members nor financial interest with them. In fact, this is my first album that I know from the band. Say, if I'm bias with my review, at the end of the day all of you would be the final judge about the musical quality of this album. So if I'm bias, and I could not give you a picture of how the music of the band sounds like, it will erode my reputation then.

Yet, I still have another challenge to face with. By experience I have been listening more on symphonic prog / neo prog music such as Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, Kansas, ELP, King Crimson, Marillion, IQ, Arena, etc. My exploration to metal started sometime in 90s when I first listened to Dream Theater "Awake" and later I liked power metal bands such as Helloween, Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Stratovarious, Angra, etc. So, my view would be different with those of you who have grown with metal.

With all those caveats, this is my view about Acidity which will be officially released two days from now: March 13th 2005 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The album was also released internationally.

Characteristicon blasts off with heavy riffs produced from guitar and bass in relatively fast tempo. The riffs continue to serve as main rhythm section to let the screaming vocal (non lyrical) enters the music. Guitar solo is performed before the lyrical voice line starts to roll. Guitar solos performed nicely between verses of lyrical part. Musically, I can sense the influence of Black Sabbath; even some part of voice line sounds like Ozzy's singing style especially in Sabotage album. Drumming is probably the lacking part of this track, or probably was mixed thinly during recording sessions. It's not only in this track, almost all tracks have similar issue for drum mixing.

Strength in My Weakness is slower in tempo than opening track, featuring relatively long guitar solo at the opening part. The tempo turns faster when vocal starts to scream characterized by the double pedal bass drum sound in the vein of Helloween or Gamma Ray driving section. I personally like guitar riffs produced in this track. When guitar solo takes part using two soloist, it reminds me clearly to Helloween rhythm section.

Thy Neighbor's Morality starts mellow with a sampling loop and powerful narration followed suddenly with a heavy guitar riffs that accompany voice line in a hip hop style (oh . No ..please). Fortunately, the hip hop style happens only temporarily as it's continued with a typical screaming vocal. (Well, if you like Opeth "Black Water Park" it's probably like that kind of singing style). I like the guitar solo at the ending part of this track just before it turns to quieter passage with sampling loop. Structure-wise, this track can be considered as a prog because it has a variety of changes in style and tempo.

A Dream for A Moment is a straightforward metal with some influence of Iomi's sound on guitar work. The music flows in relatively flat structure with practically no choruses. Vocal style during non-screaming part reminds me to Radiohead's singer. The tempo turns faster with screaming voice line and returns back to original tempo with some guitar solo.

Broken opens with an ambient music using sampling augmented with guitar work followed with a vocal line that enters the music in medium tempo style. This track has a different nuance as compared with other tracks as it has relatively soft riffs and some guitar fills. Guitar solo is performed stunningly during interlude part with (seems like) two guitarists. The tempo turns faster during interlude until it ends up.

Envy and Its Manifesto starts off with a repetitive guitar sound followed with a vocal. The double pedal bass drum (seems like programmed) enters and produces industrial nuance. Interesting to note here that the vocal style seems like performing in a narration style with a rhythm section resulted from repetitive guitar chords that sometime change at the end of singing part. In the middle of the track, the music then change to another form in a faster tempo with stunning guitar solo and programmed (?) drum sound.

The Way of Thinking Beyond Comprehension is a fast speed metal music with a screaming vocal in loud and noisy mood. There are some repetitive drumming sound in a fast speed that sounds like a slipped CD spinning due to some scratches. If you like metal, this part is for you - it has heavy riffs and some melodic guitar solo. At the end of the track, there is a bit of exploration of jazz/fusion music. It suddenly change the mood to an ambient music and choirs which end up with a narration in quieter passage. AT the end of narration, the music turns louder with a faster tempo until it ends. Structurally, it's a progressive tune.

Romanitika Destruksi is an ambient music with some percussives and guitar fills (no riffs this time). This short instrumental piece is completely different with other tracks as it also has some exploration of guitar sounds in the vein of King Crimson's Fripp / Belew works.

Blessing in Disguise is a melodic fast tempo metal music with excellent guitar solo with some growling vocal in high notes. The inclusion of non- distorted guitar solo in the middle of the track has made this track projects another nuance. It's followed with a guitar solo (shortly) in the vein of Iron Maiden before the vocal returns back to music. After the second verse lyrical part, there are another stunning double guitar solos. Excellent. Even though it's a simple structure track, the guitar solos (distorted or non distorted) are stunning.

Empty Space concludes the album with a medium tempo metal music with some heavy riffs during transition pieces or end of bars. The music turns faster in the middle of the track until it ends.

As I mentioned before, if you do not favor metal, don't ever think to purchase this album. Unless, you wanna have some change in your musical taste. If you have been insofar listening to Marillion, Arena, or IQ and never listened to Opeth, Symphony X, Evergrey, In Flames, Helloween, and the like, this is not for you. But, if metal music is already in your blood, you will enjoy this album. You can see obviously how the boys in the band approach the music composition of this album. You will agree with me that some tracks have been structurally composed with variety of styles that indicate the prog nature of the final product. Have you ever heard bands like Into Eternity or Freedom Call? Kekal is probably like those bands. Overall, this album has a tight composition that comprises strong songwriting and arrangements that produce nice harmony. Overall, I would give 3 ¾ stars rating out of 5: an excellent addition to any metal collection. Keep on proGGin'. !!!

Yours progressively,

GW - Indonesia