“Lies Of A Memory” takes us back where “Wasted Time” left off, and leads into “The Science Of Light”. The album closes fittingly with another quality track the gentle “The Last Song”.
Appearance Of Nothing have an ability to mix the textures nicely. On Wasted Time they achieve precisely that. On “The Reprise” for example they have come up with a superbly written track. Light meets dark, power meets subtlety, in a blend of metal and progressive alongside well written slower paced moments.
Imaginatively written, it is in many ways interestingly innovative. Whilst clear influences are there, the band has enough of their own distinctive identity to announce their arrival on the progressive metal scene.
Well performed and produced, Wasted Time may take a play or two to show all of its real strengths. The quality is there without doubt in both the song writing and the delivery. Let’s hope they have plans to get back into that studio and add to it.
Appearance Of Nothing can be found by visiting their official website or their MySpace profile.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Imaginatively written, it is in many ways interestingly innovative.
I'm not sure I was listening to the same tracks as you did... All I hear is rehashed, poorly imitated, Images & Words. As with plenty of other highly DT influenced bands that I have found, these guys really don't wander off & showcase any of their own ideas. It's unfortunate that a lot of these Heavy Metal bands get labeled "Progressive" because they utilize some keyboards and transition from heavy to soft. That's not really what Prog Metal is all about.
Personally, I would reserve such statements for releases like the new Cynic & Opeth.
2 - Jeff
Hi Brian (aka Guppusmaximus !) - thank you firstly for reading the review, and taking the time to comment and lastly for the tip re the new Cynic - will grab hold of that. I know what you're saying and I know that I was looking for the 'new' amongst the 'influences' and found some things in there that showed imagination and the potential to go in a more personal direction. I gave the album a few plays and that's just the way I saw it. Thanks again - will seek out Cynic though for sure. Jeff
3 - Mark Saleski
so is the band wrong for calling themselves progressive? because they do.
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
No...The band can call themselves whatever they want even including boring & pretentious. Hell, Jessica Simpson calls herself Country now...So why not??
5 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Jeff- Thanks for taking my comments in stride as they are just that...comments.
I would like to read more of your reviews about the "Progressive" Metal scene because, atleast, your writing got me interested in checking out their music. Kudos!
6 - Tom Johnson
Sebastian Bach has gone country now, too. The end is nigh.
7 - AON Keyboarder
Hey guys!
Well thanx to listen to our album at first! And thanx to the reviewer for he liked it :-)
Well I can understand that you wouldn't call it progressive! I mean sure we aren't like Opeth or DT. But I think also a lot of people call Between the Burried and me progressive... so I really think the term "progressive metal" can include so many variations and styles.
Well and if you don't like it then wait for our new album, it'll be definately a bit more "unusual" and more "metal" (ok now I sound like someone from Metallica ;-) )!
Marc