DAY SIX

This Dutch band focuses more on creating atmosphere than flashy technique, but they are still quite good at what they do. The atmospheres are contrasted - alternating dark melancholic passages and heavy, sometimes crushing riffs (witness Massive Glacial Wall). Somehow it reminds me of a desolate landscape and then a snowstorm. Which is fitting, considering that the album's concept deals with an alien ship found in Antarctica. And in a smarter way, not your typical X-Files way.

Anyway, contrary to what might be expected, the vocalist has a not too poweful, but pleasant, slightly melancholic regular guy voice, which I could easily imagine in a indie rock band.

For a higher rating I would like to see more variety in sound, but these songs still contain few proggy surprises, such as a midnight sax in Lost Identity, or soulful passages in the song-within-a-song Fergus Falls. And the melodies are quite hummable. I also like the occasional rumbling organ sound, giving more depth to the music. So, to encourage nice guys for what they do, I give them 4 stars.

4.5 stars. Hey they're back ! It's been seven years since the debut and they sound better than ever. DAY SIX are a Prog-Metal band out of The Netherlands and I was very impressed with their debut and reviewed it 4 1/2 years ago on here.This is a concept album and I really like the way they use the synths to create atmosphere.They can get really heavy at times but they mix it up well. Lots of samples too. I enjoy the singer's voice a lot.Yes this all adds up to a must-have for Prog-Metal fans.

"Massive Glacial Wall" opens with atmosphere before the music kicks in quickly and hard. Synths are howling in the background before a calm settles in with reserved vocals. Not for long though.The contrasts do continue though. I like the samples of people speaking that come and go. Great track.Samples,strings and synths end it. "Lost Identity" opens with dark but laid back guitar as reserved vocals join in. I love when it kicks in heavily. Synths too. Again contrasts continue between the heavy and atmospheric. Another killer tune. I like the laid back guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes.Sax after 6 minutes followed by some nice bass. It calms right down a minute later as relaxed guitar joins in.

"Castel Gandolfo" has these heavy outbursts that come and go to start until they stay with synths.Vocals before a minute. Listen to the synths howling before 2 minutes. It settles before 3 1/2 minutes and it's dark. It picks back up around 5 minutes then the vocals return. "Inside" has these laid back guitar melodies in a dark atmosphere. It's slowly building. Here we go ! That happens at 3 minutes and vocals follow. Killer sound after 5 minutes. A calm with vocals 6 minutes in then it kicks back in at 9 1/2 minutes and even harder at 13 1/2 minutes and again to end it. What a track !

"Fergus Falls" opens with a beat and organ. Reserved vocals replace the organ. It turns heavy before 1 1/2 minutes.This is great ! It settles back again but contrasts continue. Love those heavy sections. "A Soul's Documentary" is almost ballad-like but it's better after 1 1/2 minutes because of the drumming. "Age Of Technology" has a heavy intro with organ. It settles back with vocals 1 1/2 minutes in but the heaviness returns. Nice guitar after 3 minutes. Excellent sound 4 1/2 minutes in.Vocals are back around 6 minutes. "7th Sign" has such a great intro with those haunting synths and dark atmosphere. It kicks in at 1 1/2 minutes. A nice heavy soundscape after 4 1/2 minutes. Samples too. Synths sweep in at 6 minutes as it settles again.Great tune. "In The End..." has some incredible atmosphere then the guitar joins in. The atmosphere is beautiful as sounds echo.

An amazing album from beginning to end. Every Metal fan needs to hear this one.

Day Six are a progressive metal band, and "The Grand Design" certainly delivers progressive metal.

But we ar not dealing with the flamboyant sort of progressive metal associated with the likes of Dream Theater. Day Six are progressive in that they experiment with the juxtaposition of various different moods through combination of soft and heavy parts and generally make use of complex song structures without their music ever being complicated. They also draw on the psechedelia of the progressive rock of the 70s in a fashion that reminds me a bit of Alrune Rod.

This results in a dark and slightly pyschedelic type of heavy but catchy mushc which one can easily lose oneself in. Thus, I think that "The Grand Design" has something in common with Psychotic Waltz, Thine and Opeth (minus the death metal elements, of course), all of whom also draw on the darker types of psychedelic progressive rock.

In addition to these elements there are some heavy and groovy guitar riffs and a lot of clean guitar parts with atmospheric keyboards, and there is even some midnight sax on "Lost Identity" which works brilliantly. In addition, the bans also seems to draw a bit on the alternative rock and metal of the 90s, as there are some solos that sound inspired by Tom Morello and riffs that sound inspired by Alice in Chains.

This sounds like a mishmash doomed to fail; actually my original review of this album on heavymetal.dk got a comment from a user who argued that "The Grand Design" just sounds like a long messy jam session with no structure at all. That's not my experience of this album. I think that all of these elements really add up well together, the the result is a dark type of progressive metal which fans of early Psychotic Waltz, I think, would appreciate.

Recommended to fans of progressive metal, gothic metal, and 70s progressive rock.

(review originally posted in Danish on heavymetal.dk, and in English on metalmusicarchives.com and progfreak.com)

This dutch band named Day Six is young and full of talent on this first release from 2003 named Eternal Dignity. They are a progressive metal outfit and try to capture all is best in this genre, they succeded on every pieces that's true with some outstandig music and catchy arrangements. The music is very well done, quite surprisingly good in some parts like on opening track Legend of the Hollow , a near 11 min of high class progressive symphonic metal with lots of tempo changes and awesome choruses, the keys here truly shines and the last track named The Crypt another goody from this dutch band, another example of how must sound an excellent progressive metal piece in 21 century, brilliant musicianship and inovating keyboards and guitar works. The rest of the pieces are all good, not a weak moment here, from time to time some oriental guitar passages are added to give to the listner a great atmosphre and aswell some arabic or egyptian better said feel to it. The vocals made by Robbie van Stiphout are good and very well is melting with this kind of music, from mellow to dark to a more rougher moments he is the man for this music aproach for sure. Also he is an invited guest in another dutch band who plays symphonic metal named Medea. So, all in all a great album, quite underrated in contrast with the great album they delivered. Some passages are amazing showing that they were a promising band that for some reasons remain unnoticed for wider public. They are now preparing a new album that will be soon relased. Fans of Medea, Lana Lane or even Therion in places will enjoy to the max this band.4 stars, recommended for prog metal listners.

DAY SIX are a young Prog-Metal band from the Netherlands.Their music contains a lot of tempo shifts and synths, which really add to the atmosphere of their songs.The singer is very good as are all the musicians.

The album opens with "Legend Of The Hollow" and right away we have the lead guitar and the synths trading off solos.There is a galloping melody that comes and goes in the IRON MAIDEN style.The synths really do add to the atmosphere of this tune and I love the sound of the guitar with it's lower tone. "The Law Of The Web" features some good riffs and synths and the vocals are supported with a female choir that sounds amazing. The guitar melody has an almost Arabic feel to it.The song ends with vocals and piano.

"Dark Tower" is a slower, dark song with synths and some great bass work. "No-One Lives Forever" is good , with an amazing guitar melody about 3 1/2 minutes in. Some vocal sampling as well. "Water & Stones" opens with acoustic guitar, synths and vocals, that are again supported with the choir. Some good piano as well. "Day VI" opens with a monologue and the galloping melody again (it's great) .This has such a thumping beat to it. "The Crypt" is the longest song on the record. A slower paced tune that gets aggressive during the chorus. Heavy riffs are contrasted with a guitar melody, light drums and gentle vocals. This song is all over the place (mood shifts and tempo changes). This is a great song.

This is a very promising young band whose debut is excellent, and highly recommended.

Another nice band I discovered on this site. Quite progressive and symphonic, a mix of Therion and Black Sabbath with slight Crimsonesque influences. The music is often slow and dark, with melodic guitar solos and refreshing keyboards, but also heavier passages. The vocals are powerful, yet very melodic. A very enjoyable album...

"Legend Of The Hollow" is the first of the two epics on the album - mid paced metal with a slight middle eastern feeling, strong keyboards, spoken interludes. "The Law Of The Web" is another song with a strong middle eastern feeling (the artwork sets the mood for this song) - starts really quietly with even a children choir before speeding up a bit with a nice guitar/synth instrumental interlude. "Dark Tower" is probably the most progressive song here - a dark, doomy melody interrupted here and there by heavier and faster instrumental parts, very reminiscent of early Black Sabbath. "No-one Lives Forever" is in the same vein (maybe the only drawback of this album... some of the songs sound a bit the same, or at least share the same pattern). "Water & Stones" is the ballad of the album - gentle melody and vocals, the children choir is used here too. "Day VI" is one of the most symphonic songs here - the keyboards are really present, the distorted rhythm guitar adds power to the music, very much like what Therion does when they do semi- ballads. "The Crypt" is the other epic song on the album - 14+ minutes with a lot of mood changes, a good way to close the album.

Rating: 97/100 (5 stars - highly recommended).

Day Six is rooted in the early Nineties when schoolfriends Dolf en Robbie (at about 11 years old) founded their first band named King Of Darkness. But it became really serious in '97 when the two friends formed Peanuts. In 2002 they changed their name into Day Six, in the same year the band includes Daan Liebregts on drums, Dolf van Heugten on synthesizers, Nick Verstappen on bass and Robbie van Stiphout on guitars and vocals. In 2002 Day Six released the mini-CD "World beyond earth", this was a re-release from CD "The law of the web" by Peanuts. The following year the band released the CD "Eternal dignity". This album sounds mature and dynamic with powerful vocals, strong and fiery guitarplay, inventive keyboardwork and a tight rhythm-section. The seven compositions deliver music that is described by the band as 'symphonic metal'. This fits more than progressive metal because Day Six their sound is not loaded with endless biting guitar - of flashy keyboard 'scale-acrobatics': it contains lots of fresh ideas and captivating shifting moods. An interesting album from a promising Dutch progrock band.

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