Release Date: 15th
July 2014
Label: 10T Records
This
is another of those bands that are “new” to The Ancient One. This time, the
band is Iluvatar, from Baltimore, who have previously released 3 albums, Iluvatar (1993), Children (1995) and A Story
Two Days Wide (1999).The long gap from release No 3 to this new release, From the Silence, may well be a
contributory factor to the title. There is also news that these early Iluvatar
albums may well be re-mastered and re-issued. The band would fit into what is
best classed as the melodic, symphonic progressive rock style, and they have
been compared favorably with such acts as IQ, Pendragon and Arena.
Iluvatar is a 5 piece band with three of the original
members still active in the band. The line-up is Glenn McLaughlin (vocals and
percussion), Denis Mullin (guitars) and Jim Rezek (keyboards) together with
Dean Morekas (bass, bass pedals and backing vocals), who joined prior to album
No 2 being issued, and Chris Mack (drums and percussion) who joined just before
album No 3 was issued.
From
the Silence is an 11 track album with a total running
time of around 55 minutes. The opening, title track, is by far the shortest on
offer at 0:53 seconds and track 5, “Across The Coals” is the longest at a few
seconds short of 8 minutes. (7:56)
The opening, and title track, “From The Silence” (0:53)
is merely a very short introduction to the main event. Very reminiscent of
short wave radio snippets, it morphs into distant vocals behind some ominous
sounding strings/mellotron. The following track, “Open The Door” (4:48) is
certainly a shift from the ominous to the aggressive. There are terrific vocals
from Glenn over a track that simply charges along with superb keyboards and
jagged guitar riffs.
“Resolution” (7:03) accepts the baton readily and
although there is a gentler start to the track, it builds until the heavy guitar
riffs vie with the keyboards/strings/mellotron for air. Veering from the light
to the dark, and back again, this track grabs the listener. The keyboard
passage just before the 3 minute mark is majestic and evolves into a stunning
guitar passage.
The extremely unusually named “Le Ungaire Moo-Moo” (3:28)
is of a similar feel to the second track, with the mighty mellotron and guitar
providing a dual attack on the senses. The jagged guitar backed by the solid
bass and drums drive this track from start to finish. The tempo then changes
completely into a symphonic style, touching on the pastoral at times, with
“Across The Coals” (7:55). Melodic guitar, sympathetic keyboards and a crystal
clear vocal, washes over you as you become immersed in the atmosphere generated
by the music. Both “Favorite Son” (4:15) and “Between” (7:00) sit very
comfortably with “Across The Coals” style, being similarly melodic, full of
little hooks, acoustic guitars and haunting, ethereal keyboards.
The vintage keyboards and quirky time changes of “The
Storm” (4:00) give the vocalist a bit
more work to do, but Glenn takes it all in his stride. “The Silence” (6:21) has
an amazing keyboard/ synth introduction and the overall feel of the track is very
“spacey.” This track is a hugely atmospheric slab of progressive music.
The penultimate track, “Older Now” (3:19) is another
shift in style. The track is melodic, with superb bass, clear vocals and those
“comfortable” keyboards edging the track along.
The final track on From
The Silence, “Until” (6:01) continues the melodic run with a gently
building track that simply soars by the halfway point. There is a majestic
soaring guitar in the second half of the track, as well as a false ending.
Everything stops at 4:36 minutes, but bursts back into life at 4:49 minutes and
simply flies along for the last minute and a bit.
Iluvatar was a complete unknown to me prior to receiving From The Silence for review, but after
several listens to the album, I became very aware of having missed out
somewhere along the line. Not knowing the previous albums, I cannot comment on
whether this new album has shown the band evolving a style, but From The Silence shows real musical
maturity, with each track expertly crafted, encompassing, but never imitating,
the style of the bands mentioned in the introduction. This is a band which may
have been “lying low” for several years, but have returned with something very worthwhile
to say. Give From The Silence a few
listens, notice the two stickers, “One to Buy” and “The Experience will last
Forever,” and follow the instruction given by the former.
5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Across The Coals, Between, The
Silence
Tracks:
From The Silence
Open The Door
Resolution
Le Ungaire Moo-Moo
Across The Coals
The Storm
Favourite Sun
Between
The Silence!
Older Now
Until
From The Silence
Open The Door
Resolution
Le Ungaire Moo-Moo
Across The Coals
The Storm
Favourite Sun
Between
The Silence!
Older Now
Until
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog
Rock Music Talk
September 7, 2014
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
Awesome
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