REMEMBRANCE

ENNEADE is a promising band of French prog-metallists, whose album I chanced to pick from Russian MALS label. 4 long tracks, 50 minutes of Top-Notch Prog and almost no information about the band - thrilling enough, isn't it? The music ENNEADE plays is not your typical Progressive Metal thing (but there are some cliches anyway ;) ). It's somewhat closer to Heavy Prog. From "King of Silver"'s powerful memorable chorus (the song is available for streaming on band's LastFM page!) to "Dreamscape"'s final "Goodbye" word you'll have MARILLION-like melodies, DREAM THEATER-like complexity, OPETH-like heavyness and KING CRIMSON- like guitar lines (some pretty enjoyable crossing tunes they create!). ENNEADE is beautifully eclectic in a best sense of this world, and I highly recommend anyone to give this album a listen. Suitable for any taste and likings, it can be you next favourite thing for weeks! Recommended!

4.5 stars. ENNEADE are a six piece band out of France and this is their debut released in 2005. I would describe their sound as being parts Post-Metal, parts Prog-Metal and parts Heavy-Prog. This is an almost 50 minute concept album with four tracks. The picture of the band in their bio here shows one of them wearing a MAGMA t-shirt. I like them already.

"King Of Silver" is my favourite and it clocks in at almost 18 minutes. Nature sounds to open that continue even when the guitar arrives before a minute but then they fade out quickly as the music comes in. A calm with vocals follows then it turns heavy 4 1/2 minutes in. Hell yeah ! The vocals before 5 1/2 minutes sound like the singer from UNDER THE SUN. This section will be reprised several times thankfully. Great sound before 8 minutes as it settles into a groove. Some atmosphere after 9 minutes as the beat and more continue. So good. Love the guitar that joins in after 10 1/2 minutes. It's heavier with riffs a minute later. My God ! Vocals are back before 12 1/2 minutes then it's heavy again 14 minutes in. Killier stuff. A calm with piano and strummed guitar 16 minutes in. Reserved vocals too then it kicks in. Yeah it does ! Strummed guitar and piano end this ride. "The Dreamscape I" has a nice relaxed but darkish sound with vocals. It settles right down after 2 1/2 minutes then it's heavier after 4 minutes and vocals join in a minute later. It turns intense when the vocals stop but they are back late.

"The Dreamscape II-IV" opens with some nice deep bass lines and drums. The synths cry out then the tempo picks up after 2 1/2 minutes. A calm before 5 1/2 minutes but the bass here is huge as the drums pound slowly. Spoken words before 6 1/2 minutes. So good ! The spoken words stop after 8 minutes then he screams. "The Dreamscape V" opens with atmosphere as drums, bass and guitar help out. Vocals just before a minute. tasteful guitar 3 minutes in. An Eastern vibe follows but it's brief. A calm 6 minutes in then the vocals return before 7 1/2 minutes. It picks up some 8 minutes in then settles back again as the vocals come and go.

I just really like their sound, in fact I like pretty much everything about this record. And it's great to hear some Metal again too.