DEATHANITY

This 2008 release by US act Odin's Court doesn't impress too much, although it has it's good qualities.

Quirky and complicated progressive metal is the core of this band's sound, staccato arhythmic guitar patterns being a feature that is common on most compositions. They mix this with distinct symphonic leanings, adding mellow segments in quite a few creations where melodic acoustic guitars, keyboard layers and quite often atmospheric guitar soloing too. Further enriching their sound is the addition of jazz-tinged elements; often by way of the bass guitar - and the addition of sax in a few tunes.

What makes it hard for me to enjoy this one is abrupt, brutal changes in style and pace as a regular feature in most songs; somewhat weak vocal delivery (with a few exceptions) and a mix that although is finely balanced is just too loud for my personal taste - the soundscape has tendencies to become cacophonic in the busiest and most energetic segments.

Worth checking out for people into technically complex prog metal with adventurous and eclectic leanings.

I have had some real struggles to try and write this review, and have scrapped it a few times, but it's time to give it another shot. There is some incredible music on this prog metal album, with the guys showing that they can lock horns and provide shredding complex melodies as good as anything you may find on Poverty's No Crime or Presto Ballet for example. There are some spoken word passages in places, the music darts and drives into different stylistic areas with complex changing time signatures, counter melodies etc?But?(it was fairly obvious that there was a "but" coming) it just isn't all that it could be which is a great shame. It's just that it doesn't all work all of the time. Take Matt Brookins vocals for example, there are many times when the vocal style and delivery is absolutely perfect for the accompaniment, but there are other times when it jars.

Overall this is not as much a killer album, but one that promises what could be if there was a producer strong enough to keep everyone focussed and to cut out the elements that detract. That being said, it is still worth investigating if you like your prog good and heavy you may just come way disappointed. www.progrockrecords.com

Odin's Court is an american prog metal band formed around 2001. The name of the band is taken from Black Sabbath famous piece with same name from Tyr album. back to amricans, the album I review now is Deathanith released in 2008 and I think is their second release. The band playes prog metal but not for everyones taste, mainly because besides music the voice really distract, not bad but not fatastic either. The music is quirky, lots of breaks , and on almost every tune the style changes, I mean on one is symphonic prog metal , on other going almost jazz fusion, on other combined those two, and in the end you don't know what you listning to. Anyway the musicinship is most of the time ok, despite the vocal delivery who is standard and not very spectacular. No particular tune is better then other, all has kinda same level. Two invited guests here, Englund from Evergrey is present on some vocal parts on Mammonific and Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica on Esoterica piece From me 3 stars, nothing more, nothing less. Similarity with Kamelot, Poverty's No Crime, or Symphony X.