Release Date: 10th
June 2014
Label:
Indie
Laser Baron is
the second release from the band Valence, following on from the debut release, Sleepwalker in 2012. The name I saw at
one point was likened to “valence” in chemistry which has to do with the
bonding power of an atom ( all over my head as in a previous life I was a Plant
Physiologist) and the band “fuses or bonds” together metal, jam, classical and
jazz to form a unique sophisticated progressive style. A terrific claim to
make, so does the music available on Laser
Baron substantiate this claim?
Valence came together in 2010, the debut release was two
years later and now another EP puts in an appearance. The band is a 4 piece
outfit comprising Michael Buonanno (guitar), Geoffrey Schaefer (guitar), Ian
Morris (bass) and Chris Romano (drums). There is an interesting storyline to Laser Baron, in that it is based around
a fictional scientist, Dr Mervin Taylor. The music will bring out the struggle
between good and evil and transportation into an oppressed parallel universe,
which is a lot to squeeze into 3 tracks. To parallel the music, the band is
releasing a series of short stories, written by band member Geoffrey Schaefer,
to further explain the full story of Laser
Baron.
Laser
Baron is a 3 track release with a total playing time of 17:14
minutes. The shortest track on offer is “Wormhole” lasting for 4:31 minutes and
the longest track on the EP is the final track, “The Reasoning” nudging just
over the 6 minute mark. (6:24)
The opening, title track, “Laser Baron” (5:19) is a full
blooded assault on the ears with the twin guitars of Michael Buonnano and
Geoffrey Schaefer doing what they obviously do well, powerfully backed up by
Ian Morris (bass) and Chris Romano (drums). Some tasty little guitar riffs
being thrown out here and there, but sometimes just about breaking the speed
limit. At around 4:30 minutes there is a distinct change into a much more jazzy
area, but with little time to evolve before the track has gone.
“Wormhole” (4:31) is an almost laid back spacey piece of
music with some truly wonderful guitar
playing which, I will admit, was unexpected after the opening “Laser Baron.” As
it progresses past the 3:30 minute mark, the urgency and the tempo certainly pick
up and we are back into metal areas which escort the track out and into “The
Reckoning.”
The final track, “The Reckoning” (6:24) returns us to the
thunderous version of Valence so prevalent on the opening track. The difference
this time round is that there are touches of the melodic themes from track 2
and the furious shredding style seems to have been curtailed. There then
follows some excellent guitar passages, but the heavy metal thundering is
almost palpable just below the surface.
Laser
Baron, I will admit, highlights a style of progressive music
which I would not class as my favorite. I find that guitarists who seem to like
being speed merchants are notoriously difficult to tell apart, and thereby
hangs the problem I found with Valence. I found parts of the songs excellent,
and the musicians are obviously skilled, committed craftsmen, but
unfortunately, I thought that much of what I was hearing was very generic in
style and lacked the very factor they were aiming at, uniqueness.
Give Laser Baron
a few listens and make up your mind whether you want to create a space on your CD
shelf, but on this occasion, I think I will pass. An evolution from the debut release, but I
still feel there is a way to go to get to where they want to be.
4/5
Stars
Key
Track: Wormhole
August 12, 2014
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
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