Question, you’re a metal band at the fore front of the Djent/tech
metal scene and potentially on the verge of commercial breakthrough, what do
you do? The answer apparently, if your Periphery at least, is to release a 2
disc prog metal concept album. . . riiiiiiight why didn’t I think of that!
The album has been divisive to say the least, the bands fan
base are split on whether its genius or hubris and technicality over content.
To a degree I can understand some of the criticism, this is not metal at its
most accessible, it’s a work of mind bending complexity and I can only imagine
the chagrin of the record label marketers on hearing it. However the album also
happens to be a genre defining moment, and a masterpiece if you just give it
the time and attention it deserves.
As all good double albums should Alpha and Omega feel very
different yet the same, weaving an utterly compelling narrative, the first act
Alpha is the lighter more accessible of the 2 with Omega being a suitably
darker affair. The complexity you would expect in a prog or Djent album is
certainly here but so are some absolutely huge melodies, these are most obvious
in tracks like Heavy Heart, Rainbow
Gravity and Alpha from Disc one
but the brightest moment and the creative peak of the record is saved for last
with the 3 tracks on disc 2, with the utterly ferocious Hell Bellow which ends with a
surprising Jazz piano outro that bleeds into the head spinning, Death
Jazz masterpiece that is Omega a 12
minute epic that puts all other songs to shame and then the album closes the
shimmering Stranger things.
Periphery should be congratulated for having both the
bravery for putting this album out there and for having the musical ability to
make it work. From front to back there is not a single weak moment on display
here, everyone sounds terrific but special mention goes to Periphery mastermind
and riff master general Misha Mansoor for his stunning guitar work and vocalist
Spencer Sotelo who just sounds absolutely phenomenal, whether he’s screaming or
singing his heart out.
Ultimately this is a record that maybe isn’t for everyone,
and it is better for that fact, and for those of you who have the attention
span to give it the time it deserves it is a hugely rewarding experience. This
is the sound of a band out growing the labels they have been shackled with and
leaving the competition in their wake, if there is a better album than this
released in 2015 I will be very surprised, delighted but surprised.
9/10
Listen to -Omega
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