| CD REVIEW Last Chance To Reason |
 |
|
Band : Last Chance To Reason This “Progressive Metal” band from Augusta, Maine was founded in 2004 and went through several line-up changes (2 previous singers, 3 different second guitarists) to come to their current membersgip of lead singer Michael Lessard, guitarist/ backing singer AJ Harvey, guitarist Thomas Waterhouse, keyboardist/ synthesizer player Brian Palmer, bassist/ backing singer Chris Corey, and drummer Evan Sammons. During their foundation year the band saw its debut EP Dreamt Of An Angel, Woke With A Nightmare released through Abaddon Records, which in its turn attracted the attention of Tribunal Records, who released the band's Jamie King (check stuff by Between the Buried And Me, The Human Abstract, and more) produced full-length debut Lvl. 1 in August 2007. The album immediately showed the band's fascination for video games, especially referencing Nintendo's Super Metroid in their song titles, and in the album cover's artwork. King likened the band's sound to “aliens taking over the world”. Which is not surprising, because influences include Progressive bands from Metal as well as Hardcore and Trance. The guitarists play at a technical level which frequently puts 'em in a “Math” mode, and with the wacky keyboard and synthesizer sounds on top...I guess the picture's complete, right? Level 2 is a continuation of the band's take on video games, but taken to a next level, as it is actually linked to the game (developed by indie game developer Tom Vine) by the same title. If I can be permitted to cite: “Level 2 is a melding of both arts...” (video games and music) “...into a unified experience. You will battle through fully interactive interpretations of the band's music. The game/ album's story unfolds through thematic riffs, stirring vocal hooks and progressive virtuosity while the player blasts his way through vicious gameplay inspired by classics such as R-Type, Contra, and Super Metroid”(aha...again!). From another source: “Set in a Tron-like virtual world, the album's concept revolves around the relationship between man and technology, our move from physical reality to virtual spaced and what these changes mean to our lives and our art. The lyrics are expressed from the point of view of an artificial intelligence facing the violent reality of a videogame world.”! For the most part, those lyrics are done with quite clean and often serenely calm singing, but there's also some grunting being done in the background every now and then, merging a link to the more extreme arts of music. Reportedly, the album was leaked onto the Internet on April 8 (stupid MF'ers who do that, incapacitating a band to live off its music in any decent way, in spite of all the effort that goes into the creation...no respect anymore for anything at all, that's what it is!). Which is a crime in several ways! I mean, any true music lover should want to have his or her own copy of the album...not only in principle (Thou shalt not steal!!!), but also because the finished “product” is really worth having! As far as I'm concerned, it is yet another of the “must-have” releases of this year, and therefore a nominee into my year-lists! Well, those who did nót steal the music yet, and are still in need to find out what this band sounds like, should listen to the couple of full-length tracks posted at (www.) myspace.com/lastchancetoreason. For further 30-second samples of all tracks (off the band's both albums, by the way), consult the band's page at Last.fm! 98/100 Tony. |