Anubis - 2024 - The Unforgivable
(46:30; Bird's Robe Records)
To celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band, and 15 years since they released a concept album as their debut, Sydney-based Anubis have returned to the concept theme again for their seventh. The story here is about a young man joining, and then escaping from a religious cult in the American Midwest known as The Legion of Angels. It is designed as a single piece, split into ten parts, which fits neatly over two sides of vinyl at 47 minutes running time. One of my favourite sayings is “too much music, too little time”, but I must confess I am somewhat surprised to have only now come across this band as this is modern prog which is very palatable indeed.
The band comprise Robert James Moulding (vocal, guitar, percussion), David Eaton (keyboards, soundscapes, 12 string, bass pedals, vocal), Douglas Skene (electric and acoustic guitars, vocal), Dean Bennison (electric and acoustic guitars, vocal), Anthony Stewart (bass, vocal), and Steven Eaton (drums, percussion, vocal) with guest Becky Bennison providing vocals on two of the sections. My initial listening made me sit up and pay attention as the piano is so delicate and so emotional, filling the space with gentle reverb, with gently picked guitar repeating the melody. Given there are two guitarists in the band (while Robert also provides guitar), I was not surprised to find them in the Neo prog sub-genre, although the basslines were somewhat more dramatic than one might expect. But this is modern Neo, not what I was listening to in the Nineties, and the layers and passion soon made me think of modern Big Big Train, Dim Gray, Head With Wings, The Pineapple Thief and possibly Muse. There are times when the pop elements come in with crunching guitars and plenty of passion, but others when the vocals and arrangement are incredibly passionate and emotional. If “Part V – One Last Thing” was edited back from the 5:26 it currently is and given to the radio stations, then one can imagine them raving over the new Coldplay.
What strikes the listener more than anything is the quality and power of the production, as it is spotless, allowing the band to really shine. In Moulding they have a fine melodic prog singer who is unafraid to go high and slightly crack if that is what it takes to convey the message, while the rest of the guys move and switch the music from heavy prog through to pop rock seamlessly and always in total control. This is already my favourite prog band from Australia since the mighty Aragon, and that is saying something.
Kev Rowland, December 2024
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