| CD REVIEW The Android Meme |
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Band : The Android Meme Hum...I hate it when this happens...the download copy of the promo of this album only came with some promotion around the album itself, and none of my usual sources unveiled anything about the history of this Toronto based Canadian Progressive Rock act, leaving me pretty much in the dark about the band's antecedents prior to releasing this debut official full-length album. Things I DID get from deduction and small details, is that the band (currently consisting of singer/ programmer Stefano “Dementia” Amelio, guitarist/ synthesizer player Mathias Devereaux, bassist Mark Davison, and drummer Jake Hamilton) have at least been about since January 2006 (which is when they started their MySpace page). Something which has also been around for a while is at least part of this album's material, a video for the track “Sumii” already in existence since January 2010. One additional detail I have in the band's career, is that they did their first acoustic performance in Spring 2009...and that the album here was recorded with producer Matthew von Wagner. But other than that, I can only revert to the material at hand. Which is exciting enough, because Ordo Ab Chao is a conceptual album dealing with the (definitely possible) concept that the conspiracy idea of global domination by shadow governments is not just a theory, but in fact a reality. What if, they ask, these powers use space-age technology in order to “program” us to obey blindly? Well, The Android Meme feels they have the answer to that question, and deliver that within their 10-track debut album. Although not conceptual as a whole in the classic term (with a beginning, middle and end), the album deals with overarching concepts to make some kind of cohesive tale for the album, using imagery from the Mason lodge in the album cover's artwork in order to tie it all together. I won't divulge anything more about the lyrical content, so as I won't spoil your fun of finding out for yourselves. Musically, the guys play a Progressive Rock with soft Metal tinges and additional influences from Alternative, Electronica (nice synth additions here and there), and even Death Metal in some of the backing vocals. According to the label's info sheet, listeners would hear influences from Tool, Peter Gabriel, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, Motley Crue, and Rush...but try as I might, I could not find a lot of that here (except for the first and last to some small extend), the band having a very nice own identity indeed! Overall, I'd say people into Progressive kinds of music definitely should give the 4 songs posted at (www.) myspace.com/theandroidmeme a listen. I'm sure that will be enough to convince you to go out and order the album. Doubters can listen to samples of all songs at the band's Last.fm page! Me, I'm bought, sold, whatever you wanna call it, but definitely into The Android Meme! 95/100 Tony. |
