THE NEW EVE

Review originally posted at www.therocktologist.com

With this album I am having my first experience with this French band, who have gained a place in the musical realm in the last years, that is why I got interested. This album is entitled "The New Eve" with nine compositions that range from 4 to 6 minutes average.

It kicks off with "Shut Up", whose first seconds seem to mark a delicate path, but the music all of a sudden explodes and the metal sound is offered right away. After a minute the vocals appear for the first time, with a sound like a mixture of Dream Theater meets Scorpions. The music is good, strings and drums in a powerful way, while keyboards put the background, Nice opener track, though I must say that in the chorus where the backing vocals say "hey, hey" is terrible. The next song is the title track, "The New Eve" which starts heavier than its predecessor and with a different voiceprint. The music seems to be more aggressive, and the composition more challenging. There is a cool instrumental passage after three minutes where the keyboards become a main instrument.

"Escape" has again that inherent power these kind of bands offer, since the first second we can appreciate the fast and heavy sound, with a slice of progressive rock on it. After three minutes there is a great part where the keyboards produce some kind of spacey-robotic sound that puts a different texture to the music, changing its path, but not harming it. Later it returns as it began and finishes like that. "Never Heal" is one of those songs that can stay on your mind, not precisely for being memorable or unforgettable, no, because it has a catchy sound, sorry if I sound harsh, but I don't mean a catchy-radio-station-tune, but it is easy to remember it and like it. Here I want to emphasize the bass work, which is pretty good.

"Angel" starts more electronic, reminding me a bit of Ayreon, then vocals enter along with acoustic guitar and create a nice mellow sound. The music flows and when the chorus comes it becomes more emotional, and I can't deny, a bit poppy. "The Day I Died" seems at first to continue with that mellow and soft sound, but after some 5 seconds it explodes and starts developing a structure with a recognizable rhythm, nice changes in tempo and mood, and good intercalation of keyboards and strings, with nice solos included.

"In This Place" reminds me again of Ayreon for the very first seconds, you know that keyboard sound is very peculiar, but well, the music changes right away and becomes totally different, with powerful drums, strings and vocals. This is a nice song because it sums up what Spheric Universe Experience's music is about, so this may be a nice example of their offer. "Self abuse" is another fast track, closer to other metal genre, rather than the progressive one, though with the keyboard and guitar solos the prog element is evident. The album finishes with "My Heart on the Cross" which is a pretty good track, a different one with a cool use of electronics, while a disarming voice sounds. Nice way to finish a good album.

So it was a good experience with this band, though as you may know, I am not fan of metal music, I can have good moments listening to bands of quality, such as this Frenchmen. My final grade will be 8 out 10.

Enjoy it!

Spheric Universe Experience's "The New Eve" is a journey into heavy prog metal territory with some synth and melancholy diversions. I have been cranking this album for a while and it really has grown on me, especially the melodies and powerful driving riffs.

It begins with the scorching muscular guitars of 'Shut Up', with Vince Benaïm's crushing distorted riff that gallops along on a fast time sig. Franck Garcia's vocals are raspy but easy to understand in the same style as Testament. The riffs are killer and the lead break is dynamic, along with keyboards played by Fred Colombo to soften the dense atmosphere.

'The New Eve' is a 6 minute track with a fast cadence and locks into a frenetic riff, only to break away in the slower chorus with some retro synth sounds. The synths are more prominent at times sounding like the music of Gary Numan. There is later a very choppy riff and then an excellent metronomic Dream Theater style riff. Christophe Briand's drums pound relentlessly and after another vibrant lead solo the chorus finalises this wonderful song.

After such an incredible start 'Escape' follows, driven by a very fast tempo with a brain melting complex riff that will test the dexterity of any respectful guitarist. The vocals are terrific, just serrated enough to have a metal edge without resorting to growls, and I love the melody on the chorus that is a real grower. The saw toothed synth buzzes along with spasmodic guitar bursts, and a lead break augments the heaviness. This song is an absolute belter; pummeling with breakneck speed sledge hammer riffing from beginning to end. 'Never Heal' follows, clocking 6.15, with synth and guitar thrashing out an endearing riff and then settling on a rhythm with doublekick drums. The vocals are more subdued and demonstrate the range of Garcia. The bassline of John Drai maintains the meter as a guitar solo unleashes with speedy hammer ons and then a scintillating keyboard solo takes over.

So far every song is excellent prog metal, so I was wondering with a title like 'Angel' would we be able to relax with a power ballad to break away from the intensity. The 6.44 minute song opens with spacey textures on a very slow beat; a dreamy soundscape. The vocals are very gentle with acoustic vibrations, so we have our respite which is a welcome relief. The melody is lovely, as Garcia sings building to a stirring harmonised chorus; "when the rainbow in the grey sky, light upon me or give me a sign, angel, you are my angel, fly on my shoulders when I am sad and blue, angel, you feel my heart and joy, thankyou for being here in my life." The lead break with angelic synth is mesmirising and this is a gentle song, underpinned by tranquil synths. It ends with an isolated piano and a baby cry echoing, then some unsettling spacey atmospheres.

'The Day I Died' has a surprising funky vibe and Colombo's warbling synth lines with much cleaner vocals. It certainly is a diverse approach and I like Beniam's choppy axe work. It a more mainstream form of metal sounding like a different band. 'In This Place' returns to the heavier guitar distortion and manic riffing, and the pace gets into a breakneck tempo. This is speed metal territory and the heaviness is jarring after the previous two tracks. The riff is killer and at times moves into the pentatonic style of Tool. Briand's drums crash unremittingly and there is a strong presence of keyboards layered over the density. This track is a metalhead's paradise.

'Self Abuse' is another very fast full on riffer, the band seem to be gaining pace the further into the album we get, and this has growls earlier thrown in to give it an even heavier mood. The raspy vox come in multilayered, and it seems to have an Arabian style melody. The fast strumming is traditional thrash, and the instrumental break is a trade off of razor sharp lead guitar and keyboard attacks. The lead work at the end is barking mad improvisation.

The last track is 'My Heart on The Cross', opening with a synth motif and slowed tempo. A breath of fresh air after the chaos previous, again the mood is completely different. The singing is clean and softer, as we hear about the girl who is in the protagonist's dreams but also in his nightmares at times. The compelling lyrics talk of the cross as a symbol, healing of afflictions, and the loss of a girl who has torn out his heart, this is why "the gravedigger is waiting, waiting for me". The melancholy is strong and it builds to the revelation that "behind the door there is my hell" and "this is my judgement, trying to escape distress, trying to escape this mess."

"The New Eve" is a terrific heavy prog album with enough metal to appease those who like thrash and yet there is a fair degree of prog elegance with ballads and some sweeping keyboard finesse. This variation makes the journey all the more captivating and I was very impressed with this album from Spheric Universe Experience.