Album Reviews : Anubis Gate – Horizons
‘Destined to Remember’ starts the show off with a familiar edge for any of those that have been following the band’s releases until now. In 2013, the band released a free digital EP whose centerpiece was an amped up version of Pink Floyd’s ‘Sheep’. This version of ‘Destined to Remember’ is a little different to what we were dealt up on the freebie, however in a more enjoyable way to these picky ears.
The band touch on some great melodic heights and have some beautiful ear candy that helps keep the album fresh compared to their corollaries with some lush acoustic sections and textural synth backwashes that are forever inspired.
The production team of Kim Olesen and Jacob Hansen is strong and commanding with a reasonable amount of dynamics. I initially became aware of their work on label leader Lance King’s 2011 ‘A Moment in Chiros’. I was thoroughly impressed and the depth of the soundstage and the ethereal layers which are omnipresent on this album, although unfortunately not as well executed.
The band’s performances shine on all tracks with a particular highlight to the intriguing keyboard layers. I do feel as though I want to like the sound more than I do as I feel especially vocalist/bassist Henrik Fevre’s vocal is honest and competent but something about it just does not grab me which is confronting as I feel much of the instrumentation grabs me in a visceral way in many moments scattered across the album but it’s few and far between that I feel the whole band explodes with groundshaking importance in a way that I always look for in releases. It’s actually hard for me to believe the difference it makes when Henrik is singing softer sections as opposed to the more traditional metal vocals. He is really on the money and we definitely hear that in the 14 minute monster ‘Dream Within a Dream’ and the closing track which shows a vulnerable and tender side and is both a puzzling and satisfying closure to the album.
Progressive Music in general has many a promising release scheduled for this year and ‘Horizons’ is no exception to the mega-hyped anticipation that many prospering bands have been seeing such as Opeth and Teramaze. In some ways perhaps the hype had artificially raised my expectations of the release, and I have to admit I have not been the greatest follower of Anubis Gate’s previous output with the exception of ‘Andromeda Unchained’ which I actually found to be a shining star of quality in the band’s back catalogue. Horizons has caught my attention and changed some of my disposition towards the band, however I have to admit – I have not been fully captured. Whilst I see what many others are seeing in the band, the release does not connect me on the emotional level that I need to be completely transported to another dimension and height of auditory pleasure. A solid effort with some moments of greatness and some that don’t quite hit the mark for me. 7.5/10
Tracklisting
01 Destined To Remember
02 Never Like This (A Dream)
03 Hear My Call
04 Airways
05 Revolution Come Undone
06 Breach Of Faith
07 Mindlessness
08 Horizons
09 A Dream Within A Dream
10 Erasure
About Douglas Skene
Latest News
-
Pioneering Aussie metal drummer Matt ‘Skitz’ announces 2021 national tour.
One of Australia’s pioneering metal drummers, Matt ‘Skitz’ Sanders (Damaged,...
- November 14, 2020
- 0
-
Be’lakor tease new album studio updates.
Melbourne’s Progressive Death Metal masters, Be’lakor has recently dropped new...
- November 14, 2020
- 0
-
Psycroptic release details of upcoming EP “The Watcher Of All”.
Tasmanian death metal masters, Psycroptic have unveiled their latest single...
- November 7, 2020
- 0
-
Chaos Divine releases their brand new album ‘Legacies’.
Perth progressive metal masters, Choas Divine has released their long-awaited...
- October 21, 2020
- 0
-
Tyr and Arkona reschedule Australian tour dates for 2021.
Overdrive Touring, the crew behind the upcoming Týr and Arkona...
- October 21, 2020
- 0
-
Heavy metal comedian, Steve Hughes releases debut solo album.
Australian comedian and heavy metal drummer, Steve Hughes has recently...
- October 21, 2020
- 0
-
In Malice’s Wake unleash ‘The Blindness of Faith’ music video.
Melbourne thrash icons, In Malice’s Wake, have unleashed their latest...
- September 25, 2020
- 0
-
Victorian premier, Dan Andrews announces $9 million live music venue grant.
Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria has recently announced a $9...
- September 25, 2020
- 0
-
King Parrot release new single “Nor Is Yours” featuring Phil Anselmo.
King Parrot have released ‘Not Is Yours’, their latest single...
- September 22, 2020
- 0
-
Orpheus Omega release fan favourite playthrough videos.
Melbourne metallers Operhus Omega has been busy on social media...
- September 21, 2020
- 0
Like us on Facebook
Album Reviews
-
El Colosso – Forgotten Ancestors
Another heavily underrated local act, this Melbourne band has...
- Posted 4 years ago
-
Markus Saastamoinen – Puzzle Pieces
A little background on Markus Saastomoinen: he is a...
- Posted 4 years ago
-
Plini – Impulse Voices
The new album from Sydney instrumental guitar prodigy Plini...
- Posted 4 years ago
-
HJELVIK – Welcome to Hel
Ex-Kevelertak frontman Erlend Hjelvik is about to open the...
- Posted 4 years ago