Arabs in Aspic - 2023 - The Magic of Sin [mini-review]

(42:10; Karisma Records)



















Norwegian band Arabs in Aspic are out with the album "The Magic of Sin", and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. This album is an English language, reworked version of the band's 2017 album "Syndenes Magi", and while the compositions have been subject to alterations beyond the language it is still not a strictly new album as such. That being said, this is a splendid production to get familiar with for those fond of a more atmospheric laden and eclectic variety of old school progressive rock. Gentle pastoral passages coexist nicely with heavy set riff driven passages here, and romantic sections dominated by elegant vocals and vintage sounding keyboards are just as much a presence here as the good, old keyboard and guitar or organ and guitar combination. With some fine lead vocal and vocal harmony details to top it off, and with tons of retro charm throughout that makes you feel that this is an album that sounds like it was recorded in the 1970's, but has been subject to a 2023 remastering. An album that should be quite the rewarding experience for those with an affection for the more diverse and inclusive varieties of classic era, old school progressive rock.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
https://www.arabsinaspic.org/
https://www.karismarecords.no/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thirteen of Everything - 2023 - Time and Other Delusions

Image
(68:22; Basement Avatar Records) Track list: 1. Timeline 8:57 2. Alternate Life 12:02 3. Where the Time Goes 5:32 4. The Penultimate Flight of Armando the Pigeon 7:11 5. The King of Istanbul 10:35 6. Warmth and Darkness 7:32 7. Count All the Days 16.33 Line-up: Brett Cosby - guitars Mick Peters - Chapman stick, bass, pedals, vocals Ted Thomas - drums, percussion, vocals Bob Villwock - keyboards with: Thad Miller - keyboards Prolusion. US band Thirteen of Everything has been a going concern for a bit over 20 years, releasing their initial demo back in 2002 with official albums following in 2005 and 2019 respectively. Following what has been a brief pause between albums for this band they are now preparing to launch their third studio album "Time and Other Delusions", which will be released on US label Basement Avatar Records. Analysis. In terms of the different variations one can find in the progressive rock universe, Thirteen of Everything resides safely inside the symphonic ...
Read more

Deaton Lemay Project - 2022 - The Fifth Element

Image
(63:04; Deaton Lemay Project) Track list: 1. The Great Awakening 5:32 2. A Different Place in Time 7:24 3. Dragonfly 3:35 4. The Nightmare 4:28 5. Exordium 6:24 - Elements of Life Suite 6. Overture 4:43 7. Fire 6:10 8. Water 6:11 9. Air 4:19 10. Earth 6:53 11. Music 7:25 Line-up: Roby Deaton - keyboards, guitars, vocals Craig LeMay - drums, percussion with: Hadi Kiani - vocals Ehsan Imani - guitars Josh Mark Raj - guitars John Haddad - bass Charles Berthoud - bass Liza Evans - violin Prolusion. US band DEATON LEMAY PROJECT started out officially back in 2018, following a 25 year long period of gestation. They released their debut album "Day After Yesterday" in 2019, and following what I suspect has been a rather busy planning and recording period during the years of the pandemic the creative twosome of Deaton and Lemay are back with their second album "The Fifth Element" at the start of 2022. Analysis. While the fifth element apparently used to be defined as aether ...
Read more

Highproject - 2022 - Beyond the Veil, People Stand Silent. Trusted and in Their Prime

Image
(45:14; JackHill Records) Track list: 1. 1000 People 8:48 2. Trust in Me 9:38 3. Prime Time 6:18 4. Rhyader Goes to Town 5:44 5. Silent Treatment 6:58 6. Veil 7:48 Line-up: Anders Altzarfeldt - organ, keyboards Stefan Andersson - bass Bjarne Forsbom - guitars Mikale Grönroos - drums, percussion Robert Johansson Lind - vocals, guitars, percussion with: Lovisa Pingani - vocals, percussion Prolusion. Swedish band Highproject showed its first signs of life as a venture, at least on the internet, all the way back in 2014. A lot of work appears to have been done more in silence since then, before activities started to become more visible to the outside world from 2021 and onwards. In the fall of 2022 the band released their debut album "Beyond the Veil, People Stand Silent. Trusted and in Their Prime" through the label JackHill Records, which I presume is the band's own label. Analysis. Progressive rock is the realm explored by this band, and they appear to have more of a retro...
Read more