Orphan Project - Spooning out the Sea

Title: Spooning out the Sea
Artist: Orphan Project
Genre: Hard Rock / Progressive Rock / Metal
Release Date: 30th June 2009
Label: NePlusUltra



Album Review

The ORPHAN PROJECT began with two musicians and “an idea to write a concept album on physical and spiritual adoption.” The idea transcended into reality and materialized in the first album ‘Orphan Found’. Between 2003 and 2005, the project went on hiatus and the band members would put their efforts into other musical engagements until in 2008, they went back into the studio to record an EP, entitled ‘Orphan Project II’. Now signed to the NePlusUltra brand since summer of that year, the band has been releasing their second album ‘Spooning out the Sea’ at the end of June.

That building piano of the opening track ‘Reach’ sets a slightly dark tone, while the employed drum sections add a progressive note and last but not least, an epic timbre is embedded with orchestral keys and then it’s time for the band’s biggest highlight: The voice of Shane Lankford. Slightly raspy and at the same time passionate and as warm as being embraced by a ray of sunlight! The lyricist’s work is driven by a deep faith in god and Christianity and thus, might not be something everyone will be comfortable with, but on the other hand, it’s not that obvious every time, so you might want to check them out anyway, even if you’re not a believer. The other side to the band’s work is their skilful combination of hard rock, progressive rock and even metal elements on the album.

An example of a more hard rock inspired piece would be the second tune ‘Angel’s Desire’ whose riff work is on the edge of Metal and gets melodic counterpoints with some very catchy hooks by Lankford. One more balladry, emotional moment is presented with ‘One Dark Moment (Providence)’ that builds on mellow piano and violins to strengthen the reflective feel of the lyrics. The song itself gains on strength as well as its progressing onward to a rousing crescendo and with ‘Head on Your Platter’ follows the most definitely darkest and heaviest piece on ‘Spooning out the Sea’ with gloomy soundscapes opening it up and the deepest metal riffs for you to rock out. These are opposed with anthemic, uplifting moments with heavy use of the organ.

No matter if you’re a Christian or not, you’ll find something for you within the tunes on ‘Spooning out the Sea’ and if it’s just the firmly intriguing instrumental work, they put to the table or the impressive sound of Shane Lankford’s vocals.