THENCE

The mystery of this album--and the reason it has taken me so long to write my review of it (even though I've been loving its songs for several months)--lies in its categorization. Is it Neo Prog like MYSTERY, EDISON'S CHILDREN, Thomas Thelen's T, RIVERSEA, or NINE STONES CLOSE, is it Crossover like TONY PATTERSON, Heavy Prog like KARNIVOOL and VOTUM, Experimental/Post Metal like ANATHEMA and STARE AT THE CLOUDS, Space Rock/Psychedelic like NOSOUND and MEMORIES OF MACHINES, or perhaps even Post Rock? Such is the enigmatic sound that these two guys--yes two guys--create. I think the "Experimental/Post Metal" subgenre that they have been assigned at ProgArchives is the best fit as they really do sound a lot like ANATHEMA and STARE AT THE CLOUDS.

Line-up: Juha Sirkki' - Vocals, keys, guitar, bass Erno R's'nen - Drums, percussions

1. "I Burn The Day, The Ghost" (8:18) sounds like the music that would be produced if two of the 21st Century's best bands came together to produce a song, Australia's KARNIVOOL with Sweden's BROTHER APE. The "strings" are mixed a little too loudly, in my opinion, and the voice a little too buried into the mix. Otherwise, a great song. (9/10)

2. "No One, Anyone, Be Someone" (6:06) sounds as if NoSOUND's Giancarlo Erra were singing for MYSTERY or KARNIVOOL. Like the previous song, I feel that the 'strings'--as wonderful as they are (great, lush arrangements)-- are mixed too loudly and the vocal too far into the mix--where it is getting buried--which is partly due to volume levels and part to the distortion effect through which it is run. (8/10)

3. "Abundance" (6:59) opens with electric guitar strumming what sounds like the same three chord progression that makes up the foundation of one of the COCTEAU TWINS' greatest songs of all time, "Pink Orange Red." A wonderful, heavily-sustained electric guitar lead covers the second half of this two-minute 'intro' section. From there on out the song has a feel of with a great chunky bass, solid drum foundation, and unobtrusive background synth washes over which Juha sings in another heavily-treated vocal (One that is, happily, not drowned out by the collective wall of sound created by the other instrument). The song could easily be mistaken for a great song from RIVERSEA, MYSTERY or TONY PATTERSON. (9.5/10)

4. "It Is Truth That Liberates" (4:24) opens with a little (as it turns out, foundational) computer synthesizer sequence that makes one expect the possibility of a PAUL OAKENFOLD/Ibiza-like electronic trance song. But, no, a heavy prog rock song forms over the top. Great keyboard 'strings' arrangements and a pretty good chord progression and vocal make this a solid and powerful song--though it could use a little more variation and development. (9/10)

5. "Pursue" (10:46) sounds like an odd, soft-but angular KING CRIMSON song--especially with the screaming, infinite-sustained, ROBERT FRIPP-like lead guitar throughout. The development, chord structure and vocal/vocal melody are all lacking a bit. Already before the song is half over the music has built, crescendoed and decayed into a soft, spacey piano and synth interlude. A DICK PARRY-like soling saxophone joins in for the seventh minute for a nice two-minute solo while the band joins in again at the seven minute mark. At 8:00 lead guitar takes over for the sax (for an awesome GIANCARLO ERRA-like solo) as the music continues beneath in a gorgeous ANATHEMA way. Great second half . . . can't make up for an average first half. (9/10)

6. "Oars In Our Hands" (7:43) a beautiful Post Metal synthesizer 'strings' arrangement permeates and founds this song and the second half is truly remarkable, but the opening half is less than winning, less than engaging. (9/10)

7. "Life Will Get You Eventually" (7:53) the same Post Metal sound and form with the usual gorgeous synthesizer 'strings' arrangements. One of the album's better vocals and some very strong bass and drums supporting the wall of sound up top. Perhaps a bit monotonous (especially after the previous six songs). (8.5/10)

Very solid drumming, very mature and accomplished synthesizer 'strings' work throughout and some pretty good guitar play, as well. The vocals could be better (or less treated) and the often-underdeveloped or one dimensional song constructions could be improved upon, but these guys definitely have a strong future ahead of them. A band to watch!!!

4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music and an excellent addition to any progressive rock music lover's album collection.

THENCE is a Finnish duo of multi-instrumentalists that, after a couple of years of work, put this beautiful 57 minute opus together. The most immediate comparison that comes to mind is GREEN CARNATION's "Light of Day, Day of Darkness". Next to a similarly long title, the albums have a similar mood and sense for melody and melancholy, often reminding of PINK FLOYD, but also of KATATONIA and ANATHEMA. Good company if you ask me.

The track alternates between heavier metal parts with clean downcast vocals and soft interludes with brooding acoustic arpeggios, ambient synths and some nice Floydian guitar and sax interventions. The main melody and riffs that constitute the opening and at the end of the piece remind me a lot KATATONIA, especially their end 90's album 'Discouraged Ones'. The music builds up to a climax that resolves around minute 49. It would have been the ideal moment for closure, as the quiet 8 minutes that follow don't add much and stretch the mood too long. Even if they are fine by themselves, I miss an element of surprise, a change of chords or mood, or simply an abrupt end that would have made a stronger impact.

A wonderful album for fans of a gentle gloomy Floydian take on metal, similar to GREEN CARNATION, ANATHEMA or KATATONIA. The band gets carried away in their enthusiasm and could have improved their work by cutting some corners for the sake of a more concentrated impact. For sure one to remember for the top 10 year list.

I guess I wasn't patient enough. There are long parts to this single song album which go on for a rather long time. And it's all one song, so skipping around a CD isn't really that easy. And a good song shouldn't have you reaching for the fast forward button. That said though, there's some really good stuff in here. I feel the same about this as I do with Green Carnation's LOD,DOD - it's got good ideas and execution, but it seems like it just stretches the novelty on for far too long. It could have been a 45 minute track, rather then 57. And the lyrics finish before the 50th minute. I guess 8 minute outro pieces don't really do it for me.

If it seems like i'm being too negative, believe me, I do enjoy this. It seems like Thence took a page out of Green Carnations book with this album, and why not? Ambition can sometimes lead to great success, and I'm sure that they will find it in their later works. But here it just felt as if there wasn't enough 'oomph' to sustain the journey for as long as it went on.

The quieter parts, such as the slow section that begins just after nine minutes in, is really nice and calming - and it does seem like there is confidence and talent in the musicans work. And if it did take them eight years to fully conceive, then good work for a two person effort. I definitely can't fault them for trying to match, if not conquer the hefty conquest of mastering the one track album format. It's a risky path to take, given that the one song has to reflect its themes and lyrical content throughout a very long single piece - so in that respect, I think they succeeded grandly.

I just don't feel that this is their grand definitive statement in the prog and musical world. And given it is their debut, perhaps we'll see their true statement in the near future. For now, I give this three stars - and depending on their next musical exploits, that may rise or fall.

Edit: 4 stars. It shows off more then I gathered after listening to it a few more times. For those out there that enjoy progressive metal and ambient music, this may be the release you're after.

Definitely an interesting release from Norway, Thence's first release apparently took eight years to culminate into the end product we see here. I was lucky enough to download this when it was released by the band for promotional purposes - and I must admit, I was impressed. Essentially a two man effort, there are grounds to compare this to Green Carnation's Light of Day, Day of Darkness - in the sense that it is made up of only a single, 57 minute track. But where Green Carnations opus is excessive and powerful post metal, this is much more subdued and meandering ambient progressive metal. In this regard, it has perhaps a lot more difficulty in retaining the listeners attention, due to periods of peaceful saxophone, lightly strummed guitar and ambience. And that it concludes with an eight minute wind-down reminiscent of Pink Floyd. For the work of two people however, I hope this piece gets the attention it deserves, as it is impressive technically, although for some - I'm certain the daunting length and slow pace in parts will not be well received by those not open to them. But this is prog, and changing tones and textures throughout an epic 57 minute song should be expected. Besides - it shows great potential for the band, and considering that this ambitious project is their debut, is highly recommended by me.