| CD REVIEW Beyond Perception |
 |
|
Band : Beyond Perception When Kostas Kalavrezos (guitar), Panos Kalavresos (bass), Tolis Toleas (drums) and Paris Poukamisas (vocals, guitar) started this band in 2004 (by now you've understood that the boys hail from Greece, right?), their aim was to play a Progressive Rock, and it's in that musical mood that the quartet started playing shows both in their home country and further afield in Europe. Along the way the members got different Metal and Rock influences, with a shift of their own music as a result. Now finding themselves comfortable in the direction they'd chosen, the boys recorded a promo CD which found positive response from the fans. Multiple live appearances all over Greece ensued, which made the music evolve into a heavier and more aggressive mood. In 2006 musical differences lead to the departure of the singer, just at a moment when the band has new songs to work on. In stead of just getting themselves a new guy and continue full throtle, the remaining trio decided to search intensively for someone who would fit both personally, musically, and standard wize. Ten months after Paris' exit, they come across former W.F.D.D. singer Panos Karnaris with whom they almost immediately record a new demo prior to live dates. Urged by their fans, the outfit then records a full-length album. Following its release the band threw itself again on the Greek live circuit, playing support to several big names in their country's Metal scene, while also making themselves successfully known outside Greece through a variety of websites...the most positive result of which was to get signed by Casket Music in late June! So, now you might ask yourself just how these guys sound, eh? Well, the label puts it as follows: "...a band that could easily have come from middle America, shredding mny Euro clichés you might expect to find here, instead showcasing a rich and sodden mixture of sludgery, in the vein of Crowbar...". Hum...I don't know Crowbar well enough to either confirm or deny that statement, but what I càn tell you is what I hear! You see, the band definitely still has a foothold in Progressive music, frequently playing their tunes with a repetitive/ progressive build up. Even though there's only one guitar player in live conditions, the guys have taken the opportunity of studio recording possibilities to add a second guitar. One of the nice features is that this second guitar frequently plays the same tune as the first one, but in a slightly different tonality or, even nicer, with a slight time shift...before coming together again. Although it was mentioned earlier that the band's music evolved to a more aggressive one, the band still plays passages (in the songs "Majesty In Zero" and "Follow"), or an occasional song (album closing "Beyond The Borders Of Perception"), where the mood is more sedate...in a calmer Sludge way...at which time the singer goes in a spoken word passage. In two songs the guys embellished things with a short sample from a movie soundtrack [I'm certain I saw the movie the sample in "Crawl Down Bitten" (a song which ends with a very nice bit of acoustic-ish and Country-ish guitar) is taken from, and the same goes for the Robert De Niro flick from which a sample is used in "Follow"...but at this very instant I cannot for the life of me remember what their titles are]. In the more aggressive moments, a strong remeniscence to Pantera comes to mind...and apparently that band is one of the Greeks' influences, as one of the live videos you can see at myspace.com/beyondperceptionband sees the band playing a cover of "Domination". Another band which comes to mind, is Black Sabbath, but that only in some riffery. The songs posted at MySpace are all in the more aggressive vein, which is a pity because you don't get to hear the beautifully sedate and melancholic album closer. I have to say that in those calmer moments the melancholic, say depressive, mood is very strong! At any rate, the album is not advisable to people already in that frame of mind, as the rest of the album's lyrics ain't exactly uplifting either. However, for those into that scene...Sludge fans, aggressive Stoner lovers...this album is exactly what the doctor's ordered! I won't say it's an essential buy, but The Final Descend is certainly a worthy addition to such people's record collections! And the nice thing is, we (you and me) probably won't have to wait too long before a sophomore album is released, because the band is already in the process of writing new material! 90/100 Tony. |