Artist: Affector
Title: Harmagedon
Genre: Progressive Rock
Release Date: 21st May 2012
Label: Insideout
Album Review
‘Harmagedon’ from prog-rockers AFFECTOR is a mushroom cloud of destructive force; the conceptual album based on the apocalypse in the biblical direction permeates every layer of musical compositions. On top of that, they quote biblical passages instead of original lyrics, which gives the album an incredible amount of depth.
The introductory piece, Overture Pt.1 and Pt.2 commences the journey with operatic arias composed by Poland’s Sinfonietta Consonus that slowly progress into a raw powerhouse of ululating guitars. ‘Salvation’ is a melodic rock ballad infused with fits of enormous, triumphant guitar riffs. 14 minutes into ‘Harmagedon’ we hear the first couplets of vocals; it is to that very point, the album loses its power, the music had already expressed the emotive side as well as interpreting the foreboding concept that the album intends to deliver. That is not to say though, that the vocalist, Ted Leonard is a weakness. His soulful discourse of the passages are very well performed, it’s just that on an alternative note, if the direction were to be an instrumental record, it wouldn’t have lost much power. On that note, this exhibits the impeccable amount of talent musically.
AFFECTOR’s debut is an interesting feat, a metal band that isn’t afraid to experiment in the genre. The length of the album is the most daring; some tracks are duration of around 10-14 minutes long. The shifts of tone are infrequent, that unfortunately develop switch off points for the listener, making the length incredibly mundane at times. Although, unpredictably, you are rewarded with the spectacle of solos and blistering hooks that AFFECTOR can do immensely well and that being said, AFFECTOR will have a promising career (hoping the end of the world isn’t this year of course).
Tracklist
01. Overture Pt.1 Introduction
02. Overture Pt.2 Prologue
03. Salvation
04. The Rapture
05. Cry Song
06. Falling Away & Rise of The Beast
07. Harmagedon
08. New Jerusalem
Line-up
Mike LePond – bass guitars
Collin Leijenaar – drums
Daniel Fries – guitars
Ted Leonard – vocals
Websites
www.affector.net
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6.5
Sound: 5
Total: 5.5 / 10
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