|
This is the ninth release of DVS Records and they have come up with
yet another winner. Chrome Shift was still in my CD player and I
could immediately replace it with the next progmetal discovery, from
Holland this time. The difference is that Chrome Shift had more an
emphasis on the prog part of progmetal, while Silent Edge is a bit
more metal, but there are enough progressive elements to lift them
above the plain metal style.
Bio:
Silent Edge was founded 6 years ago by keyboard player Minggus
Gaspersz and guitarist Emo Suripatty who decided to join their
musical experiences to make progressive symphonic metal in the line
of Symphony X and Dream Theater combined with neo classical
influences of bands like Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and Royal
Hunt. In 1999 singer Willem Verwoert accompanied these two musicians
in their quest.
In August 2000, Silent Edge recorded a demo CD containing two
powerful melodic symphonic metal tracks written by Emo Suripatty and
Minggus Gaspersz called 'Under a Shaded Moon' and 'Savage Symphony'.
All the attention led to a performance on 'Progpower Europe' in
October 2001. In December 2001 Silent Edge won the 'Metal Bash', the
Dutch metal contest organized by Aardschok metal magazine, as best
Dutch metal act of 2001/2002. To record this album Marco
Kleinnibbelink (ex-Deadhead, Syrinx) joined the group to take care
of the drums of the band and became a full member of Silent Edge.
The Album:
I
can’t name another singer with the same voice as Willem, but the
dramatic style can be compared with the singer of Ice Age. Most of
the time, I like his singing, but from time to time there’s
something annoying in his voice. Not that he’s ever out of tune, but
sometimes he exaggerates a bit on the tremolo and sometimes his
voice has a sharp edge that I don’t really like. But in other parts,
he’s really brilliant.
The first song “Through Different Eyes”, which you can download on
www.dvsrecords.com isn’t really representative for the rest of
the album. The structure is nothing out of the common, but it’s the
easiest to get into, so maybe that’s the reason they’ve put in
on-line. But you can already hear the skills of the different
musicians and it’s promising for the rest of the album. This first
track is a very melodic song with beautiful harmonic singing in the
chorus. These harmonics, together with the keyboards, are often the
major assets of the band. It also contains some speedy guitar and
keyboards solos.
“Savage Symphony” has a strong Symphony X intro. You could classify
it under the neo-classical progmetal that’s been very popular the
latest years. Again the keyboard plays the most important role with
some very beautiful interventions.
“Wasted Lands” is a lot quieter. It’s a semi-ballad with some
outstanding vocal harmonics. Halfway through the song it gets
heavier. Marco plays some unbelievable rhythms on the drums, the
keyboards are back in full speed and the guitar slows it a bit down
with a sensitive solo.
Some acoustic flamenco guitar introduces “The Curse I Hold Within”,
a beautiful ballad.
“Crusades” is a short speedy Rhapsody-ish piece. It’s an
instrumental with all the elements to give the song the neo
classical feeling, a choir, double bass drum, fast keyboards and
speedy guitars.
This short track evolves into my favourite track of this album, and
I’m certain it will be for a lot of people, “For Ancient Times”. The
first part is again dominated by some excellent singing, the second
part is more instrumental, with an outstanding performance by the
keyboard player who, after some solo parts, is joined by the guitar
for a great second part of the track. It’s a very progressive song,
with lots of changes.
“Lost Conscience” keeps giving me the feeling, that it should have
been a bit faster. This makes it a bit boring and for the same
reason it seems too long, although the guitar solo at the end gives
some compensation.
“Under A Shaded Moon” has the Dream Theater complexity, combined
with speed.
“Rebellion” is once again a more speedy track. I remember the first
time I heard “Images And Words” from Dream Theater, I could hardly
believe that a drummer could really establish such speed and changes
and riffs, and that feeling came back here. A pity, the drum sound
is bit too artificial, as if it comes out of a machine.
The album ends with a ballad, introduced by the piano. After a short
silence, there’s another little track on the CD, with a guitar solo,
that could be “For Ancient Times” part II.
So this album has a bit of everything. It’s melodic, sometimes
complex, weird, speedy, progmetal and dramatic at the same time.
Some of you will find it too heavy, but listen to the sample on the
DVSRecords site and you have an idea.
They already performed at Progpower 2001, but with their new record,
it would be the perfect time to see them back this year. |
